of the District Court of the United States for the Southern
District of

New

York.

]N the following pages the writer has en deavored, through the medium of fiction,
to illustrate the principles of the institu

tion of Freemasonry, or rather to reveal
its

high and glorious

ideal.

THE KNIGHT
which

OF THE TEMPLE

is

an embodiment of
all

this ideal,

may

be

said, indeed, to inspire

noble and elevated

and exemplifies it in his aspirations, charitable ambitions, and benevolent deeds; and especially in his
souls;

unwavering faith in the triumph of truth and goodness, which 110 obstacles could tire, and no discouragements
could shake.

The author has
truth, viz.
:

also

wished to

illustrate

another great

that sin will sooner or latter

meet with
by

its

certain recompense,

and can be atoned

for only

labor,

and

destroyed by works of charity and love. that the Ideal of Freemasonry will yet Believing
its effects
life

descend into the

of the world, with a harmonizing

and ennobling upon the minds

influence,
of the

he has desired to impress brotherhood the importance of
to this effect.

\vorkiug constantly

and zealously

When

14

n
the world
is

INTRODUCTION.

brought under the rule of these divine
the

Sentiments,

new temple

the

great

Temple
of

of

Humanity, more magnificent than that
constructed by our ancient brethren
its

SOLOMON,

appear in and be completed by our labors with acclama glory,
will

tions of joy.

The kingdom

of violence,

and

injustice,

and inequality will be overturned, and that of love, and goodness, and virtue will descend to bless the earth forever. Let, therefore, the prayer of each and
all

be:
&quot;ADVENIAT

REGMUM

TUUM.&quot;

PROLOGUE.

THE INTERVIEW.

&quot;

AWAY! address thy prayers
Before thy star of
life is set

to
;

Heaven,

Learn
If

if

thou there canst be forgiven

mercy may absolve thee yet! But here upon this earth beneath There s not a spot where thou and
Together for an hour could breathe:
I

I

Away

!

would not see thee

die.

j|N

the extreme eastern portion of Massa chusetts, where the bold and rockshielded shore projects itself far out if inviting a conflict

into the ocean, as

with
considerable
size,

strong billows, lies a town of which, while in itself it offers no
its

attract the attention of the particular beauties to

10

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

traveler, is still

somewhat celebrated, on account of the remarkable picturesqueness of the surrounding
little
hill,

scenery.

Back of the town, toward the north-west, a more than half a mile distant, rises a lofty

covered on the west and north by heavy forest-trees, while the southern and eastern slope furnishes ample
pasturage for the cattle of the villagers.

From this eminence the eye surveys, at a glance, a prospect of the most pleasing and delightful char
acter.

The

sea,

and

its

numerous
;

fleets,

sweeping

onward

to all parts of the world
all

the hills and fields,
;

smiling in
village,

the pride of their

nestling
;

summer glory the embowered by blooming below,

orchards

the boats of the fishermen, shooting out

from various points along the shore, and skimming
sparkling waters of the bay, all unite to form a picture on which the eye never tires
lightly over the to gaze.

In the early part of June, in the year 18-, just as the setting sun, halting as it were a moment on the horizon, cast his last farewell beams on the summit
of the hills, encircling
it

in a blaze of glory, a gentle

a path which wound along under the shadow of the wood, and, advancing to the rock beneath the highest point, seated himself on a shade of a beech-tree. He bore in his hand a

man emerged from

bouquet of fragrant wild flowers, and wore in the button-hole of his coat a sprig of sweet-brier and a
rose.

THE

INTEIIVIEW.

11

He was a person of medium size, with an expressive but not handsome countenance, which at this time He moved
bitter

exhibited evident traces of fearful inward agitation. restlessly on his seat, as if a prey to

and painful thoughts, never raising his eyes, excepting now and then to look down the path which
led to the village, as if expecting the approach of some one. Occasionally, as the tide of painful memories

swept through his mind, groans and sighs would escape him, revealing a heart crushed and broken by some mighty sorrow or overwhelming calamity.

At length
in his hand.
silence,
&quot;

his regards rested

on the flowers he held

After contemplating
:

them a moment in
emblems
of

he exclaimed

Beautiful children of the sunshine
!

!

purity, love,

and innocence what now have I in and he made a gesture as if he would cast them away. I will retain you. Ye are he added Yet no teachers of a heavenly wisdom there is a healing

common
&quot;

with

&quot;you?&quot;

&quot;

&quot;

!

;

;

benediction in your

companionship.&quot;
:

His thoughts assuming a poetic form, he continued
&quot;

These flowers alone

my

sorrows

know
;

;

They see my grief and misery And when I tell them all my woe, They seem to weep and mourn with me.

&quot;

besides, are ye not also emblems .of the and of the evanescent fragility of human innocence, nature of all worldly illusions? and, as such, it is fit
&quot;And,

12

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

ye should be always with me. The fairest flowers of innocence are too often withered by the blasting breath of temptation and sin The golden illusion
!

and truth are as transitory and empty as those fleeting stars which gleam for a moment, through the night-gloom, and then plunge into eter nal darkness. The Tempter marches through the world, in a thousand fascinating and seductive forms, and through pride, ambition, interest, and cursed
of love

voluptuousness, seduces us to our ruin

!

Evil, in

forms of angelic beauty, presents the fatal fruit to our lips we eat and fall, and the avenging Cheru bim, with liery scourges, drive us from the Eden of
:

Innocence and Peace, and guard the gates against
us forever
!

beam of day had faded; a gray haze concealed the village from sight, and the already
The
last

and mysterious shadow of night descended on As he sat there in the darkness, hill and forest. wrapt in his painful thoughts, he looked like a statue of grief, repentance, and despair. Occupied with his memories, he had not noticed of some person who was rapidly ap the light
thick
&amp;gt;step

proaching him.

A hand was
stung by
&quot;

laid

upon
&quot;

his

arm

;

he started, as
&quot;

if

a serpent.
&quot;

JOHN THORNBURY were the simultaneous exclamations of both and the pair
! !

MAY MILLWOOD

;

stood face to face, silently gazing at each other in
the gloom

THE INTERVIEW.

13
lady,

The new-comer was a young

apparently

about twenty-three years of age. considerable beauty, a complexion
parent,

She possessed fair and trans

and a form rather

small, but voluptuously

head and the contour developed. of her features indicated plainly a superior intellect while her lips and eyes, and entire appearance,
of her
;

The shape

as certainly stamped her a child of passion
selfish,

false,

comprehending any great or noble sentiment, or of recognizing the first ideas of morality and virtue. So, MAY MILLWOOD, you have come as I com
;
&quot;

and capricious

incapable of

manded
a voice

you,&quot;

said Captain THORNBURY, at length, in remarkably calm, considering his recent

agitation.

here as you desired,&quot; replied the girl, in a for she could not bear the piercing of his eye, which seemed to read all the dark glance &quot;But secrets of her soui. why did you send for
&quot;I

am

subdued tone;

me ?
&quot;

&quot;

she continued.

&quot;

I thought you never wished

to see

me

again.&quot;

Listen, wretched girl,
&quot;

and you
,

shall

know,&quot;

he

I have called you to this inter replied quickly. view, that I might break the last tie that binds you
to

me show you
;

a picture of your wickedness, in

all

its frightful

deformity, and announce your punish ment. Hear me Before I knew you, I was good and happy. My soul sympathized with all that was I reverenced heaven true, and generous, and noble. and loved my fellow-men I was sincere, just, and
: ;

14
true.

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

You came
;

to me, the spirit of evil, in the form

of an angel

surrounded

me

with your allurements,

my senses with your charms, and made mistress of my entire soul and its deepest yourself affections. I forgot GOD, heaven, and immortality
intoxicated
all

for you,

who absorbed my
;

entire being.

You
only

were

my

only divinity

your smile was
the paths of

my
sin,

heaven.

Leading me

into

you

made me your slave. And yet, at this very time, when you professed so much devotion and love to
me, inebriating

me

with your fatal caresses, and

when you were
for you,

well aware of

my

idolatrous affection
;

you were falser than DELILAH of old fol lowing your capricious passions, and seeking impure
companionships, with criminal
recklessness.&quot;

While Captain THORNBURY was uttering these frightful accusations, the miserable girl appeared the extent of paralyzed. She did not think he knew
her crimes, and, perhaps, she entertained the idea, when she received the command to meet him on that
evening, that she could
still

him

in her chains.

Be

that as

deceive him, and keep it may, she was now

thoroughly undeceived.
After a pause, Captain THORNBURY resumed You have a ring upon your finger you will
:
&quot;

;

please
&quot;

hand

it

to

me.&quot;

She hesitated, and looked into his face inquiringly. he added, sternly I have said every token of my ill-starred and fatal love must be you possess
&quot;

it,&quot;

;

destroyed.&quot;

THE INTERVIEW.

15

She

slowly,

and with evident reluctance, removed
it

the ring,
&quot;And

and passed
that

to him.

bracelet,&quot;

he continued, pointing to her
it

wrist.

She unclasped
the ring.
&quot;You
&quot;

it,

and placed

in his

hand with

will

now
&quot;

give

me

that

locket,&quot;

he added.

she exclaimed, imploringly. &quot;You will not take that from me?&quot; cannot, you It must be so, MAY,&quot; he replied, firmly, but with
! !
&quot;

Oh

no, no

an accent of sadness.
&quot;Oh!

do not take

it;

it

contains the hair of

my
only

child.
let
&quot;

Do

let

me

retain

this,&quot;

she repeated

&quot;

;

me keep

this.&quot;

The lock

of hair, certainly, but not the

locket,&quot;

was his cold She drew
him.

reply.
it

from her bosom, and handed

it

to

opened it, and took therefrom two locks of one of them he threw away, and the nighthair; breeze bore it off, and scattered it among the grass.

He

The
lie
&quot;

other, a little silky curl, black as a raven s plume,
:

returned to her, saying

That

is

your
it.&quot;

s.

MATTHEW ORALL

should procure

a locket for

At the r/vention of this name, MAY staggered as if she had teen struck a heavy blow. She knew now that Captain TITORNBURY was well acquainted with all
her perfidy and crimes, and she stood trembling before him in her unmasked wickedness, not daring

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
to raise her head, nor meet the gaze of the man whom she had so cruelly deceived and wronged. And now, MAY MILLWOOD,&quot; he resumed, listen
&quot;

&quot;

I pronounce upon you Incapable of love, in any high and true sense of that term unable to comprehend the meaning of the words fidelity and
:

to

the

doom

;

duty,

you are

unfit to

be a

wife.

You must tread

the

patli of life

alone

alone! alone!
!

and alone you must
this life of deception
;

expiate your crimes

Abandon

and shame

;

overcome the latent vices of your nature

cultivate the good, devote yourself to the useful ser vice of your fellow-creatures, and you may yet atone

and GOD may accept your repent you with his forgiveness The Past, have lost forever. No power in the universe you can restore it, or remove from above you its dreadful shadow. Grim and terrible it will frown upon you through the long, long eternity. But, by the right
for

your crimes

;

ance,

and

bless

!

of penitence, you may possess the Future. Yes,&quot; he continued, with enthusiasm, as if talking to him self yes, although the Past and its evil deeds are
&quot;

;

recorded against us for evermore, and justice, stern and inexorable, will execute the everduring retribu
yet the doors of the Future are open to the penitent, and above and before us gleams the ever
tion
;

brightening

way where

angels walk.

Look

at

yonder
if

star, just lifting its

golden crest

above the

sea, as

emerging from the dark abysses below, to take its place among the splendors of the skies. Thus break
ing the degrading bonds that have

bound me,

tri-

THE INTERVIEW.

17

umpiring over the passions which have seduced and the vices which have wounded me, that star shall be
the type of

my

life

;

ever rising, ever advancing in
virtue

that star-paved

way where only

may

walk.&quot;

dazzling brightness from the eastern sky, at this moment, illuminated the entire landscape. He turned, and saw a brilliant meteor

A

sudden

flash of

sweeping down obliquely toward the horizon, leaving a fleeting trail of splendor behind. In a few seconds
the last glimmer had disappeared, and deeper dark ness seemed to spread over the sky.

he suddenly exclaimed, turning toward look well to yourself, or your life will be girl, like that transient meteor a star hurled from its
&quot;

MAY

&quot;

!

the

&quot;

blackness.

sphere of glory, to be swallowed up in the eternal Go but remember the path I have pre
;

scribed for you to walk in. Think not to deviate from it, either to the right or the left. If you seek
to practice

new deceptions, or perpetrate new crimes, a hand will be near to punish in the brightness
;

of noon, or the darkness of midnight,

an eye

will

burn on
secret,

all

and and repent.&quot; Overwhelmed

your paths of guilt, be they ever so Go, justice will be sure to overtake you.
with,

emotions of hatred,

fear,

and

turned away, without uttering a word, shame, and hurried down the path to the village.

MAY

Captain THOENBURY gazed after her with tearful eyes for he could not forget the tender friendship he had entertained for her when he believed her
;

18

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

good and pure.

A

thousand tender memories rushed

over his heart, and for the moment unmanned him. After a few moments, he took the ring, locket, and
bracelet, laid

them upon the rock
&quot;

at his feet,

and

with the heel of his boot ground them to splinters. Thus perishes,&quot; he exclaimed, the last link of
&quot;

the fatal chain that

bound me

to

an

evil destiny.

Now commences

the work of expiation.

Though

I have lost the peace of Innocence, with Heaven s help, I may yet possess the happiness of Virtue.&quot;

And he walked away through

the darkness.

PROLOGUE.

THE HELF-vVCCUSED

tears of pity o er a brother s

fall,

Nor dwell with

bitterness

upon

his fault

;

The grace and love of GOD hold thee hold Were they withdrawn, thou, too, would st

all

;

surely

halt.&quot;

II.

HE

worthy Knights of the Temple had assembled in full force, at their

regular convocation, in the month of to in the city of June, 18
. .

,

.

.

.

.

,

celebrate their mysteries, transact the business pertaining to their cornmandery, and to con
sider whatever
SL to them, or in

might be presented of interest any way connected with the
scarcely concluded,

welfare of that ancient fraternity.

The opening ceremonies had

and the order of regular business opened, when one of the Knights arose, and, advancing to the Grand Commander, placed a paper in his hands, and then,
turning to the Knights, addressed
&quot;

them thus

:

Knights and Brothers of the Order of the Temple you behold an erring and penitent brother, who, overwhelmed with shame, comes before you to confess his fault, and receive with resignation and
Sir
:

humility whatever punishment your wisdom and The paper now in the justice may see fit to ordain.

hands
to

of the 111/.

Grand Commander contains

the

particulars of his error.

Feeling unworthy longer be numbered among you, he desires to lay aside

22
all

SIGNET OF KINO SOLOMON.
that pertains to
liis

knightly state, except

its

memories, and have his name erased from the
membership.&quot;

roll of

unexpected announcement, the Knights were thunderstruck. Captain THORNBURY was one
this

At

of their most distinguished members, unusually learned in the lore of that mystic institution, which, descending from the dawn of time, has in all ages

labored to overcome the antagonisms of society, and
unite the hostile nations in brotherly confidence
lie, others, should friendship. stand before them self-condemned was too

and
thus

That

of

all

much

for belief.

Commander
&quot;

After a painful silence of some minutes, the Grand arose, and thus addressed the astonished
:

commandery
True
tion,

it is, our brother has been led into tempta and persuaded into a grave error; but the voluntary confession he has made, and the exceedingtenderness of conscience which moved him to make that confession, when the secret was known only to himself and his GOD, and could be known to no

others, but

soul is in

by his own co-operation, prove that his sympathy with virtue, and that his heart

has passed uncorrupted through that fiery experience. Nevertheless, he has broken the rules of his Order,

and and

it is fitting it

that

you prescribe some punishment,
it

remains for you to say what
the

shall

be.&quot;

&quot;Let

Grand Commander

decide,&quot;

was the

unanimous voice of the commandery.

THE SELF-ACCUSED.
&quot;Let

23

it

be

so,

then,&quot;

responded the chief; and,
&quot;

addressing himself to the self-accused Knight, who Unfor was kneeling at the altar, he proceeded
:

tunate brother, when you were invested with the dignity of a Knight, you made a solemn vow, under
the Arch of Steel, to obey
all

the rules of our Order,

Will you accept, in humility and meekness, the sentence I am about to pro
to its degrees.

and bow

nounce ?
&quot;

&quot;

I

will,&quot;

&quot;Listen,

was the earnest response. then, resumed the Grand Commander.
lost his integrity,

&quot;When

Adam

through the per

suasion of woman, the

doom

of labor

was pronounced

upon him, and has descended
it

to all his race.
for,

And
its

is

only thus that sin can be atoned

and

effects destroyed.

The righteous Judge undoubtedly

ordained this doom, because he foresaw that the punishment itself would become a means of redemp
tion.

While marching and exploiting painfully in the path of expiation, humanity advances in the way of perfection. Labor, the great penalty announced
man, has transfigured the world, and
Civilization, social

for the sin of

disenthralled the race.

institu

tions, art, science, literature,

philosophy

all

that

if

great and good, or beautiful and noble in life behold, these are the fruits of labor, that ex
piatory labor which while
world, also
it

atones for the sin of the
is

redeems

it.

Such

the nature of the

Divine punishment. Also, when one of our ancient brethren sinned against the rules of his fraternity,

24
liis

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
peers, in imitation of the heavenly order,
of labor
;

imposed and upon the arid plains, and under the burning sky of Syria and Judea, must he labor, in expiation of his fault, pro tecting the defenseless and the weak, succoring the distressed, and periling life in the sublime work of the Sepulchre of the Crucified from the &quot;rescuing

upon him the sentence

possession of the unholy children of Mohammed. Following, then, the Divine idea, and the example
of our ancient brethren, this

commandery decrees
to

that, for one year and a day, you devote yourself

Go forth, and perform the tlte service of Humanity. several labors which are demanded of a Knight of the
Temple and Holy
fenseless
/Sepulchre.
;

Watch

over the de
;

and helpless console the sorrowful relieve the distressed lead the erring and sinful into the ways of repentance and virtue. Frustrate the evil
;

and the grace of charity shall wash away your sin. Sir Knights of the Temple, let us all take warning from the sorrows of our unfortunate friend, and
never lose sight of the moral obligations imposed on us by our knightly vows. Forget not that we, too,

have

faults to expiate

by works

of charity of

and

love.

Following the illustrious examples

DE MOLAY
we

and GUIEO, the two great martyrs

of our Order,

THE SELF-ACCUSED.
can meet
titude
;

25
griefs
it

life

its duties, trials

and

with for

or death, in whatever form

comes, with
at last

firmness, confidence,

and hope. And when we stand before the Grand Commander Universe, we shall hear the approving words
done, good and faithful humanity, defenders of
to

of
:

the

Well friends of GOD and servants, virtue and innocence, ascend

your reward.

The Grand Commander, then approaching the penitent Knight, laid his hand upon his head,
saying
:

&quot;Have

GOD

;

march

Go, in the courage, brother. in the path of penitence.
!

name of Hemem-

A suffering world calls you to its ber Golgotha service, and that service comprises the seven sacred
Feed the hungry 3d, Clothe the naked with a garment 4th, Visit and ransom captives 5th, Harbor the homeless give the orphan and widow where to lay their heads 6th, Relieve the
labors of Masonry, which are 2d, Give drink to the thirsty
;
:

1st,

;

;

;

;

sick

;

7th,

Bury
&quot;

the dead.

he added,

let this

now, Sir Knights,&quot; be closed. commandery
Filii, et

And

In nomeni Patris

Spiritus Sancti.

&quot;

TJHGE

SURPRISE,

4

SHE was

a

phantom

of delight,

When

first

she gleamed upon

my sigh*

;

A

lovely apparition, sent
ornament.&quot;

To be my being s

CHAPTEE

I.

N

where our

the north part of the village, first scene transpired,

on a considerable elevation of land, overlooking the sea, and nearly concealed from the view of one passing in the road by shrubbery
and
trees,

stands a pretty cottage, one of those cosy

30

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
delightful retreats

which always draw the atten tion and elicit the remarks of travelers. The door was protected by a porch of lattice
work, one side of which was shaded and completelycovered by woodbine, and the other by a climbing rose-bush, which at this time was loaded with thou

and

sands of flowers.

The exceeding neatness

of the

place, and the unostentatious elegance of its environ ments, plainly indicated the refined and cultivated

tastes of the occupants.

This was the
of

home

of

MABY MORE.

The

eldest

three children, she resided with her

mother,

herself

who, being a lady of intelligence and culture, had taken charge of the education of her
;

daughters

and, at the age of eighteen, few young

more accomplishments, both ornamental and useful, than MARY.
ladies could boast of

Her

father,

a worthy and

much-respected sea

captain, had died some years before, leaving his sorrow-stricken widow his blessing, the memory of
his

great treasures

love

to

her the

most inestimable of

the cottage in which she dwelt, and a small income, scarcely sufficient to provide the bare

The brave and loving woman necessities of life. did not, however, shrink from the heavy burden she must now bear alone but, devoting herself exclu
;

and the remembrance of her adored husband, and supported by an earnest and trustful faith in him who had promised to be
sively to her children
&quot;a

father to the fatherless

and the widow

s

GOD,&quot;

she

THE SURPRISE.
battled victoriously with the perplexities experiences of life.
Still

31

and hard

young and

beautiful, she steadily refused all

offers of a second marriage, believing, with the mother of ST. AUGUSTINE, that the bond which bound her to her husband was eternal, and she desired to meet him again, a pure and faithful wife, and repose

in his

bosom

in heaven.

her efforts to provide for her family, she would have been sadly perplexed at times, and suffered severe deprivations, had she not periodically
Yet, with
all

received aid, which
regularity,

came

to her with the greatest

and

in such a mysterious

manner, that

she never could get any clue to her invisible bene
factors.

MARY, now a young lady of eighteen, had inherited
the amiable qualities of both her parents. Lov ing, truthful, pure-minded, and pious, she was a
all

universal favorite.
society

She could adapt

herself to all

the old, the young, the gay, or the sorrowful.
idolized her, for she

was always ready to time of need. With gentle patience she any would watch with the sick, and had a sweet smile
help in

The poor

and kind word

for

all.

And

her beauty was as rare

as the qualities of her heart were excellent.
figure

Her
finely

was

of
;

medium

size, well developed

and

proportioned her large black eyes gleamed with soul and intelligence her hands were delicately small,
;

white,

and

soft

;

tocratic mould.

and her feet were of the most aris But the most beautiful thing about

32

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

this divine creature

was her

entire unconsciousness

of the possession of such matchless charms.

Meek

artless, she had never thought of her personal attractions; nor, as is too often the case with

and

market of Beared in seclusion, her tastes were she knew nothing of the temptations and simple snares of the world, nor of the vices the fatal and numerous progeny of passion and interest which shame humanity, and make the angels weep over its Such was MARY MORE. fallen estate. The shades of evening were falling quietly and softly around the little cottage, and Mrs. MORE and her daughters, seated at the windows of their neat
beauties, calculated their value in the

matrimony.
;

drawing-room, were enjoying a view of the sea, which from this point affords a prospect sublimely impressive. A vase of flowers stood on the table,

and

filled

the

room with a

delightful fragrance,

which, with the lulling melody of the evening breeze, and soft murmuring of the sea, seemed to have led
the inmates into a deep reverie. Even little AGNES, the youngest daughter, a beautiful little witch,
always, singing and dancing, was
r

now

silent,

and

looked out, with her large and w ondering eyes, upon
the softly-murmuring ocean. EMMA, the second daughter, a lovely girl of six teen, leaning back in her chair, had closed her eyes,

and seemed to be communing with herself. Mrs. MORE, still a beautiful woman in the prime of life, with her fine countenance and dark, earnest eyes,

THE SURPBISE.

was reclining upon the embrasure of the window, and seemed contemplating some object on the shore. MARY sat silently regarding her mother. Her dark eyes shone with filial reverence, pride, and love. It was a beautiful group to contemplate this
mother and her three daughters
;

so united, so ten

der, so loving apparently so weak and helpless, and yet so strong in their great affection, their mutual
faith

and

trust.
T

MARY, w ho had not removed her eyes from her mother for some time, arose, went softly to her side,
stooped down, and kissed her; then sinking down on her knees at her feet, and looking up inquiringly into her face, she said
:
&quot;

Mother, dear mother, you

are

sad to-night

;

something troubles you.

What have you been think
&quot;

ing of that could so distress you? As Mrs. MORE turned her face

downward on her

child, one could plainly see she had been weeping. I am sad to-night. Yes, my love,&quot; she replied,
&quot;

&quot;

As

I sat here, observing the lengtheniug creeping down toward the sea, I felt a

shadows

shadow

gathering around my heart, which, in its throbbings, seemed to prophesy some coming woe.&quot;
&quot;

Oh

!

no,

mother

;

it is

nothing

;

and need
you
&quot;

rest.

Come, I ll sing
child,&quot;

for you,

you are weary, and cheer
&quot;

up.&quot;

Not now,

my

she replied

;

I was also

thinking that in a few days you will be far, far away among strangers, and we shall not see you for many

34

8IGNET OF KINQ SOLOMON.

long, long months.

I almost repent that I gave my consent to your engagement. You are too young to assume the charge of a school like that. Besides,
;

you are an artless, inexperienced girl and Heaven only knows Avhat trials and griefs may meet you on
your path.&quot; Dearest mother, do not give way to such gloomy GOD will protect me and fancies,&quot; replied MARY.
&quot; &quot;

;

You have only think what a help I shall be to you reared me, labored hard to prepare me for usefulness,
!

and now I must repay your love and self-sacrificing How much I can do devotion, by laboring for you. also for EMMA and little AGGIE, with my five hundred

And the brave, hopeful girl year her hands with delight, as she contemplated clapped the good she would accomplish for her beloved
&quot;

dollars

a

!

mother and
ocean
like

sisters.

risen, shooting out of the a golden ball, and trailing her silvery drapery along the sea, lighted up the little drawdngroom with her mild splendors. The night-scene

The moon had now

was grandly
ocean
to the
&quot;

beautiful, defying ah description.
trees, all

1

The
an

water, land, houses,

seemed

to float in

of liquid silver.

exclaimed MARY, going window, and looking out through the trees. she continued, and What a beautiful world
&quot;Oh,
!
&quot;

how enchanting

&quot;

&quot;

!

how kind and good must be its maker, who has clothed it with so many splendors, thereby affording us so much enjoyment in its contemplation
&quot;

THE SURPRISE.
&quot;Yes,

35

world!&quot; responded the withdrawn for a moment, now mother, who, having returned with, a light, which she placed upon the

it

is

a beautiful

&quot;

piano,

and

let

us be thankful to the good

GOD who

has

mad it Mrs. MORE
&quot;

so.&quot;

kissed the two elder

girls,

and taking
I

AGGIE by the hand, retired to her chamber. Come, MARY, said EMMA, let us go, too
&quot;

;

am
are
;

sleepy.&quot;
&quot;

Why,

it

is

early, yet

;

it

seems

to

me you

always sleepy, my sweet sister,&quot; replied MARY you can retire, if you will, but I want to practice
&quot;

some
&quot;

of

my
ah
!

music
sister

first.&quot;

And

she seated herself at

the piano.

Ah

!

mine,&quot;

eyes twinkled with a merry light, me. I see how it is you don t
;

exclaimed EMMA, while her can t deceive &quot;you

know but somebody

may

call.&quot;

&quot;Why,

how
;

deprecatingly

can you, EMMA!&quot; responded MARY, but a blush on her cheek, and a little

roguish smile, which, in spite of herself, appeared in the corner of her pretty mouth, proved plainly enough that the young sister s conjecture was not

without foundation.
&quot;Well,

no matter,
till

MARY,&quot;

resumed EMMA;
;

&quot;you

may

morning, good night, and I ll be

sit

up

if

you desire

so kiss

me

off.&quot;

MARY played

several pieces
.

;

but although her

execution was good, it was evident that at this time her heart was not in the piano and, after a short
;

36

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

time, she closed the instrument, and, seating herself at the window, looked out into the glorious night.

She had not long been at the window, when a slight rustling was heard among the shrubbery. She started up, with a smile of pleasure playing on her beautiful face for, to confess the truth, she was expecting her affianced lover, EDWIN MORLEY. She ran out of the cottage into the graveled walk to meet him and holding out both hands to welcome him, as he came up through the shade, exclaimed She did not finish the sen Dear, dear ED tence. She was paralyzed with consternation for, on looking up, instead of meeting the frank and open
;

;

:

&quot;

:

.&quot;

;

countenance of EDWIN MOELEY, the sinister eyes of MATTHEW ORALL were devouring her with their un
holy
fires.

She had been taken so entirely by surprise that it was some time before she could recover herself enough to speak, although she instinctively removed farther from him. Mr. ORALL,&quot; at length she had strength to say,
&quot; &quot;

what business brings you here
&quot;

at this late

hour

&quot;

?

your question is easily answered, my pretty The beauty of the he replied, with a bow. me out of doors, and the particular night brought beauty who reigns here among the flowers as queen has drawn me to this spot.&quot; You will preserve your compliments for some one
!
&quot;

O

bird,&quot;

&quot;

else,

I bid you good night turned to go into the house.
;

Mr. ORALL

&quot;

;

and she

THE SUBPBIBE.

37
&quot;

He
me.-

seized her

escape

me

so

by the arm, exclaiming, You don t easily, my sweet flower you must hear
;

I have long been a worshiper of your beauty, and now I love you deeply, truly, madly. I offer you

my hand
&quot;

and

my

heart.&quot;

Mr. ORALL,

let

me

go.

A

gentleman would not
I entreat

treat

a defenseless

girl thus.

you

to
;

release

me my
;

heart is irrevocably given to another
so,

and were
&quot;

it

not

I never could love

you.&quot;
&quot;

ORALL trembled with rage and
furies
!

passion.

By

the

he howled,

&quot;

you

shall

be

my

wife, or suffer

my vengeance.&quot; He caught the
bearing her
long
off,

when

fainting girl in his arms, and was a powerful blow sent him head
;

at the same time the the shrubbery was laid gently on the grass. The same poor girl strong arm seized OIULL by the shoulder, and thrust him out of the gate. MATTHEW ORALL,&quot; said a low, stern voice, which

among

&quot;

made
of

the villain tremble,

&quot;

I

know you

well.
it

Trouble

this child again,

and you

shall repent

to the

day

your

death.&quot;

Returning, the stranger took the young girl in his arms, carried her into the house, and laid her on a
couch. As she already showed signs of returning consciousness, he refrained from alarming the family.

Taking a glass of water, which chanced oppor tunely to be on a table near by, he sprinkled it over her face and temples. The simple application was
successful
;,

she soon revived, and, starting up, looked

38

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

wonderingly around the room, and then fixed an inquiring glance upon the stranger, who stood before
her
with,

folded arms, observing her with tender

interest.

He was a gentleman, apparently about thirty years of age, dressed in a complete suit of black, and the broad band of black crape upon his hat, as well as
the expression of sorrow which appeared on his
intelligent face, indicated that his heart

with the
bright,

was filled some recent affliction. His memory blue eyes beamed with a benignant luster,
of

and
and

all

the features of his countenance revealed a
firm, benevolent,

character of marked individuality

His long dark hair, which hung in clus just. curls around his neck, and heavy moustache, tering gave him an aspect somewhat foreign. His general
appearance, together with the large jet-black cross, bearing the legend, IN HOC SIGNO VINCES,&quot; which he
&quot;

wore suspended from his watch-guard, would call to mind one of those ancient Knights who were bound by their solemn vows to defend the oppressed, and
aid the children of misfortune.

At
&quot;

breaking the silence, he said My child, you have escaped a great danger.&quot; sir!&quot; exclaimed MARY, now fully restored, &quot;Oh!
last,
:

I ever repay you for the great service have rendered me?&quot; you Thank GOD, young lady, that I was near to aid As for myself, it is my he replied solemnly. you,&quot;
&quot; &quot; &quot;

how can

duty to protect the defenseless, and watch over inno-

THE SURPRISE.
cence.

39

Poor child,&quot; he continued, &quot;you are about out to struggle with a hard and selfish world. going

You must prepare
bitter griefs

and

yourself for painful experiences, wasting sorrows. Clouds are even

now gathering around your innocent
But Heaven
faithful,

head, and dark

spirits are inventing schemes to bring

you

to

harm.

will protect you.

Be

firm, strong,

and,&quot;

(extending toward her a cross,
&quot;by

and which
ivitt

he had taken in his hand,)
conquer.&quot;

this

sign you

Struck by his prophetic words, MARY had bowed her head upon her breast, and when she again raised
it,

the mysterious stranger had disappeared. The more she meditated his words, the deeper grew her

wonder.
&quot;

Who

is

this

man ?

&quot;

she said to herself.
plans for the future.

&quot;

seems to know me, and
&quot;

my

He He
can

spoke of gathering clouds and dangers. he mean ?
tionings, she arose, closed

What

Failing to find any satisfactory reply to her ques and fastened the windows
to her of

herself the last

and door, and retired words

chamber, repeating to her defender: &quot;Be firm,
she added, will of the cross, I
&quot;I

strong, and faithful.&quot; follow his advice, and,
will
conquer.&quot;

&quot;Yes,&quot;

by the power

Although she could not comprehend how enemies and danger should surround her, whose life had
been so harmless and inoffensive, she yet felt a vague uneasiness or fear of, she knew not what a

40

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

certain presentiment of some approaching sorrow. But the words of the stranger, while they .alarmed, also reassured her ; for if he spoke of secret foes and

dangers, did he not also speak of victory, and a divine protection?

Taking, therefore, the stranger s motto as her own, she resolved to meet the events of life with boldness

and

fortitude, relying

honesty
motives.

of her purposes,

on her own resources, the and the purity of her

She sought her pillow, and, with a prayer on her lips for her mother and sisters, the stranger, and EDWIN MORLEY, she passed away into the land
of dreams.

gloomy meditations. The beaming glory of the evening, which fell in silvery showers on all things without, cast no gentle ray of peace
verse spirit.

or light into the dark chambers of her per Her elbows resting on the table, and

her head bowed upon her hands, which convulsively pressed her brow, she sat there a long time in silence. Judging from the haggard expression of her features, her self-communings could not have been of the

most agreeable character. It was a sad spectacle
young, so capable, so

to

behold

this

girl,

so

and innocent in ap and yet so experienced in the ways of evil. pearance, She had early chosen the path of sin, and rapidly traversed its fatal course, it seemed that now con
artless,

science itself

had abdicated

its

throne in her breast,

and every womanly virtue had been banished from her heart. And yet who can say that this young girl, now so fallen, had she been reared under dif-

44

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

ferent influences, watched over by loving ej-es, shielded by the strong arm of parental affection, and breathing the sweet, pure atmosphere of peace and

might not have been one of the most brilliant ornaments of her sex, and a blessing to the world? Her father was a dark and stern man gloomy,
love,

He never laughed, but with a sardonic sneer at the fancied vices of his
discontented, and morose.

neighbors and the world, and he affected to believe
that every thing in society was wrong, and every man a knave but himself. reformer, he had all the

A

inconsistencies of those

who assume

that character;

must begin at home, and exhibiting an insane hatred to all institutions through which alone reform becomes possible. He
forgetting that reformation

denounced the Church, the Bible, institutions of religion, and especially the Order of Freemasonry, because all these rebuked his narrow-minded and
fanatical theories of society.
of society

Defying the opinions

and the common sense of mankind, he recognized no law or rule of conduct other than
interest,

or his

own

individual will or judgment.

His dark features were never lighted up with a genial smile, and his heart seemed to be incapable of those sweet affections and emotions of tenderness
which, gushing forth in their unrestrained fullness to wife and children, make home an image of the har

mony and bliss of heaven. Her mother was weak and

ignorant, careless of

her personal appearance, having no spirit of order

MAY MILLWOOD.
nor notions of
neatness
;

45
consequently, her while she and her

and,
;

house was always in confusion

children presented a picture of the most disagreeable untidiness. Restless and discontented, gloomy and
fretful, like

her husband, with

whom

she was ever

quarreling, she was poorly calculated to discharge a mother s duties toward the tender children which

given to her care. The spirit of discord seemed to be the presiding genius of the house. The loving smile, the kind word, the deep and intense affection which fall with such a divine in
fluence

GOD had

on the expanding hearts of children, like sunshine and dew upon the opening flowers, were
there unknown.

An

everlasting

shadow gloomed
;

over that wretched abode.

Such was the home

of

MAY MILLWOOD and

in the

presence of such examples, and constantly breathing such a pestiferous atmosphere, a very perfect speci men of female virtue could hardly be expected. As
she grew to girlhood, finding no love nor sympathy at home, she spent much of her time in the streets,
of pure tastes

and her chosen associates were not always persons and elevated sentiments. In truth,
either through accident, or the latent viciousness of own heart, she was usually found in the society
of persons of quite opposite character. The unchaste conversations and indelicate songs of her companions

her

crowded her young mind with voluptuous images, and aroused fearfully all the baser passions
soon
of her nature.

46

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON. m

Becoming acquainted with MATTHEW ORALL, a man
depraved sentiments and habits, she soon fell under his influence, and he completed her education in vice by corrupting her reason, and perverting her
of

had corrupted her passions and her womanly instincts. perverted Thus, at twenty- three years of age, possessing talents of a high order, a respectable education, and
conscience, as others

superior personal attractions, and assuming also the garb of piety, constant in her attendance at church

and in the Sabbath school, she was capable of deceiving a saint. She was not without intellectual tastes; an extensive reader, she was well-informed, and could converse with
intelligence

and

spirit

on

any subject. Meeting Captain TIIORNBURY

in society, she soon

conceived for him a passion as deep and earnest as her fickle nature was capable of. Plying all her seductive arts, she succeeded in winning his regard
;

and while this attachment continued, she seemed to show some signs of improvement, and symptoms of a growing ambition to rise to a nobler and better
life.

But, in a fatal moment, falling again into the society of ORALL, she forgot TIIORNBURY and her

engagements to him, and left him an inheritance of misery and remorse. But it was not long before a new passion took possession of the soul of MAY MILLWOOD. She had recently met EDWIN MORLEY, and his manly beauty
could not
fail

deeply to impress her senses. Although

MAY MILLWOOD.
she

47

knew
all

of his

engagement with MARY MORE, she

her arts and accomplishments into requisition put to attract his attention. He was amused by her wit,

and perhaps a
beauty
virtues,
;

little

dazzled

by her voluptuous
the

but the

superior loveliness,
affection of

modest

and deep and true

MARY MORE
this

; and, with jealousy and rage toward that lovely girl, she redoubled her attacks upon the heart of MORLEY,

effectually shielded

his heart.

She saw

filled

resolving, in

some way or

other, to

win him for a

husband.

At length she aroused herself from her long and cast her eyes over some papers con taining scraps of poetry, which were scattered care She selected one, and laid it lessly about the table. before her. It was a poem, entitled ALONE.&quot; After perusing it silently for some minutes, she exclaimed Can it be that these lines, written four years ago,
reverie,
&quot;

:

&quot;

were inspired by a presentiment of

my possible
l
!

fate ?

strangely they respond to Alone alone the desolate sentiment of this piece
terrible
!

His

w ords
r

how

!

alone the you must tread the path cf life alone But you shall not triumph, path of expiation
! !

JOHN THORNBURY
the

!

I defy you.
to

I will not accept

doom you have assumed
Through whatever

pronounce upon

me.

infamies, through whatever

crimes, necessary to

my

way and compass my
mine.&quot;

purpose, will I pursue my end. EDWIN MORLEY shall be
rested on a piece of white

long upon its contents, with intense interest. tained simply a little glossy curl, black as

It
jet,

con

and

almost as fine as gossamer. She pressed it to her lips, with deep emotion, and covered it with kisses,
exclaiming
&quot;

:

Oh,

my

child

!

my

darling, lost little
&quot;

MAY

!

Shall

you again ? Memories of the past came thronging upon her mind her better nature was momentarily aroused, and she wept bitterly. There, in the midnight
;

I ever see

gloom, a little baby-face, sweet as paradise, with its smile-wreathed lips and soft, loving eyes, seemed to
look upon her pleadingly, like an angel sent to arrest The innocence of her in her downward course.
infancy, through

that tiny countenance of incom

parable beauty, appealed with mute but

moving
once a

eloquence to the heart of the fallen child, and innocent herself.
Listen,

girl

oh MAY! child of sin to these earnest pleadings. Let the innocence which smiles on that
baby-face,

now so brightly seen in your memory, be a perpetual conscience to lead you back to the paths Who knows but Heaven has of purity and virtue.
?

sent you this vision for your salvation

A thought
time
;

like this evidently possessed

her at the

for, pressing her hands upon her heart, she cried, with deep emotion
:

&quot;Oh,

THORNBURY!

THORNBURY!

you

are right

MAY MILLWOOD.

49

How

deeply have I wronged you, and your great

and earnest love
against henceforth to

me

is

The doom you have spoken The path you indicated for me just. pursue is the only one that virtue and
!

honor leave open for path of life alone.&quot;

me

now.

Yes, I will tread the

Again kissing the little ringlet, she refolded it in the paper, and placed in her bosom. She arose from her seat, and was about to with
draw, when she was startled, to find that she w as not alone. Upon a sofa, in the back part of the
r

room, observing her with MATTHEW ORALL.

a sneering

smile,

sat

After being foiled in his villainous attempt to abduct Miss MOKE, ORALL paced the beach for a time, like an enraged tiger, plotting schemes of

was low twelve the hour of violence he thought of regaining his lodgings. Passing along the street, on his return, he noticed, as he approached the dwelling of MAY
vengeance. and crime
It

before

her.

MILLWOOD, a light in the room usually occupied by A sudden thought seemed to strike him, and

he turned and walked rapidly toward the house. Noiselessly opening the front door, he stole softly in,
and, without being observed, seated himself where he was discovered by MAY.
at

After gazing at each other for some time, ORALL, length, broke the silence, by exclaiming, with
scornful laugh,
&quot;So,

a

my

little

bird,

you are a
&quot;

penitent, a

Magdalene, and really believe in virtue ?

50
&quot;

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

MATTHEW

ORALL,&quot;

replied the
&quot;

girl,

with some

firmness

for the lovely baby-face yet flitted before

leave me. the eyes of her soul to my ruin. lessons have led me

Your pernicious
Nearly
all

the

crimes and perfidies with which my life is stained are the result of your teachings. Through you I
the noblest
loved.

deceived and betrayed Captain THORNBURY. one of and truest of men, and whom I really

At

least,&quot;
&quot;I

incredulously, love any other.

she added, as she saw ORALL smile loved him more than Jean ever

MAY MILLWOOD.
&quot;No

51

reproaches, MAY,&quot; said OKALL, impatiently, are partners in guilt, and have no right to censure each other.
&quot;

we

&quot;By

the

way,&quot;

he added,

&quot;I

called at the

MORES
you

this

evening.&quot;

&quot;Indeed,&quot;

responded the

girl, &quot;what

led

there.?&quot;
&quot;

Her

beauty, and
love!&quot;

my

love.&quot;

&quot;Your

exclaimed MAY, with a mocking

laugh.
&quot;

Yes,

my

love ;

and I offered her

my hand and

my

heart.&quot;

&quot;Your

heart!&quot;

she replied with a scornful curl

of the

&quot;Yes,

upper lip. MAY, my

heart,&quot;

he continued,

&quot;or

what I

for you have to represent that precious article know I never professed to be largely endowed with
;

such a
&quot;

commodity.&quot;
&quot;

Well

!

said MAY, inquiringly.

rejected me with scorn,&quot; replied ORALL, grinding his teeth with rage, while his eyes gleamed with a fiendish hate. She loves EDWIN MORLEY,&quot;
&quot;She
&quot;

he continued,
gaged.&quot;

&quot;and

he loves

her.

They

are en

MAY

started.

den transformation.
took
&quot;

Her countenance underwent a sud The sorrowful, almost contrite
and one
of fierce hatred

expression, faded away,
its

place.
ORALL,&quot;

MATTHEW

resumed MAY,

after a pause,

&quot;

you love Miss

MORE.&quot;

52
&quot;

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
No,&quot;

he replied

&quot;

fiercely

;

I did love her, but

now
have

I detest

I hate her.

I

now

seek

revenge.&quot;
&quot;you

&quot;Well,

OEALL,&quot;

she replied quickly,
yo.u.&quot;

shall

it

;

and I
!

will aid
!

Pause
is

pause
!

too late

oh, child of evil destiny, before it Look again on that sweet little face,

those soft dark eyes, that angel smile, sent to lead you into a new path to guide you to virtue and heaven. Look oh look that vision of sweet inno
! !

other words, I like him well enough to become his wife, and his wife I will be.&quot;
&quot;But,&quot;

said OKALL,

&quot;you

loved THORNBURY; you

loved

me

and now

&quot;

she interrupted him quickly &quot;let &quot;No matter&quot; us leave the past so far as you and I were con cerned, we only deceived each other. I now seek a
;

husband, while you thirst for vengeance.
in

Assist

me

my

purpose, and I promise that you

shall succeed

in

yours.&quot;
&quot;Agreed,&quot;

my pur pose of vengeance result prosperously, and I will aid you in getting a thousand husbands. But how is
responded ORALL;
&quot;only

let

this to

be

done?&quot;

Listen,&quot;

replied MAY.

&quot;MARY

MORE

is

going, in

MAY MILLWOOD.
a few days, to
teacher,

53
is

New

York, where she

engaged as a

and

will

be absent a year.

MOKLEY is weak,

have opportunities enough to gain his esteem and love. You can also acquire his confi dence, and artfully poison his mind against MARY.
shall
If she lose him,

and I

her disappointment will be a
for

suffi

having rejected you. If, not satisfy you, circumstances can easily be contrived to compromise her reputation, and thus secure you a full revenge. She is help

cient

punishment
will

how

ever, that

less,

has no powerful

relatives,

and

is

wholly in your
&quot;

power.&quot;
&quot;

Your plan
will

is excellent,&quot;

exclaimed OEALL
execution
&quot;

;

Satan

himself could not have devised a better.

but I

do

my part in

its

;

Fear not and he arose
grim
satis

and departed, stroking
faction.

his beard with

Left alone,

MAY mused

for a

moment on her dark
.

schemes, and then prepared to seek her pillow.

But no refreshing sleep can be yours, oh
wretched
!

!

lost,

sweet visions will ever brighten girl dreams again. Lost lost lost gone, the last your Gone, the last impulse to a aspiration to goodness
!

No

!

!

!

virtuous life!

The

angelic baby-face which smiled

upon you with such heaven-drawing power has faded away in the night-gloom, and will never return. The little gleam of light which shone for a moment on your dark soul is extinguished, and curtains of mid night blackness are falling around your heart, to be The heavenly hand lifted never more never more
!

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

had reached down from above, as if to rescue from the dark abyss, has been withdrawn. The you smile which fell upon your beclouded heart, like a
that

glimpse of Paradise, opening its dark chambers to a diviner influence, has passed away, and will not

come

again.

SIGISTET

OF SOLOMON.

&quot;And

who

so cold as look

on

thee,
less
?

Thou
Nor
be,

lovely wanderer,

and be

what man should ever

be,

The

friend of Beauty in distress/

CHAPTEK

III.

ADNESS
V

and sorrow were

in the

house of Mrs. MORE.

The day
to set

had come when MARY was

out on her journey to New York, to enter on her untried labors as a teacher in a seminary of that This separation filled the mother s heart with city.
3*

58

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

unspeakable grief. She had misgivings, such as a fond parent must necessarily feel, about allowing her daughter, so young and artless, so beautiful and
trustful, to

go so far from home, among strangers, and with no protection but her innocence. More

than once she had suggested to MARY whether it would not be best, even now, to throw up the engagement, and remain with her friends. But the
burst

ambitious and loving girl, although her heart nearly when she thought of parting from those she

loved so well, could not relinquish the long-cherished idea of lightening the burden which bore so heavily

upon her dear mother, by her own
affection strongly

labors.

While

sense of duty
to go.

it

urged her to remain at home, a seemed to her commanded her

Mrs. MORE, who had spent some time in giving advice and counsel in regard to her new position, retired from the room to make the last

MARY

preparations for the journey. MARY, dressed in a brown traveling habit, fresh and rosy as the morning, looked more lovely than

She was engaged in packing away in one of ever. her trunks some choice books, which she valued as while her sister EMMA was gifts from her friends
;

busy in arranging

some

little

mementos
to

of maternal

and

sisterly affection for

MARY
girls,

take with her to

her new home.

The two

who had never been

separated before, were too sad to converse much,

and

silently

pursued their occupations,

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

59

The younger sister, AGGIE, now stole softly into the room for her little heart, too, was sorrowful at
;

the thought of this parting. Approaching her elder sister, she laid a bunch of flowers in her lap, saying
See, dear MARY, what a beautiful bouquet I have gathered for you. I want you to take it with you, and then you will not forget your poor AGGIE;&quot;
&quot;

:

and the
a kiss.

affectionate child raised her sweet face for

Mary

raised the

little girl

in her arms,

em

braced her tenderly, and then placed her in a chair No, my sweet one, I will not by her side, saying
&quot;

:

forget

you.&quot;

&quot;

The Look

child

again took the bouquet, and said This full-blown rose, in the center, here.

:

I have called

MOTHER

;

that musk-rose is
is
;

EMMA

;

and that

little

moss-rose bud

AGGIE.

I have

placed a thousand kisses on them so every day you can gather a kiss frpm mother, EMMA, and me,&quot;
&quot;

And have you

also,

my

little

AGGIE

?

given me a place among them, said the earnest, manly voice
&quot;

of

EDWIN M0RLEY, who, hearing the
hall,

conversation, as

he entered the

paused for a moment, but now
&quot;we

stepped into the sitting-room.
&quot;Yes,

MARY,&quot;

quickly replied the child,

ll

name
it

a flower for
s

EDWIN but what
;

shall

it

be ?
!

A
;

bachelor
shall

button

?

No.

A

lily ?
;

No.

Oh

I see

be that sweet-william but EDWIN must and she archly raised the the kisses on put
it;&quot;

flower to his lips, which, of course, did not fail to receive the required number of precious salutations.

60

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

MARY
&quot;

smiled at the loving conceit of her young
:

sister, and said But you know, AGGIE, these flowers many days what shah I do then ?
1
&quot;

will

not keep

;

&quot;

Oil.&quot;

barium ;

responded the child, you have an her you must press them in a book, and then
&quot;

paste them in that, and they will last a long, long while perhaps till you return to us again. But, mind, you must put them all on the same page so
;

we

shall all

be

together.&quot;

Having thus disposed
little girl

her love-offering, the ran out again to play with the flowers and
of
filled

butterflies.

The

lovers,

although

with grief that they

must be separated so long, yet conversed hopefully
of the future.
&quot;

How

desolate

we

shall

be when you are gone,

dearest
his

MARY!&quot;

said EDWIN, taking her hands in

and pressing them affectionately. &quot;What a gloom will rest upon this place. These beautiful hills, and glorious wood-paths, and romantic shores will have no more charms for me, only so far as they remind me of you, and serve as constant

mementos
to

of your love.

And

it

saddens me,
far,

also,

think

how

lonely you must be, far,

away,

among
&quot;

strangers.&quot;
&quot;

True, true, dear EDWIN,&quot; returned MARY, and I dare not let niy thoughts dwell upon the subject But then, you know, a year will quickly glide by, and then, dearest, we shall all be united again.&quot;

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
&quot;

61

But, perhaps, when surrounded by the splendor and fashion of the metropolis, and especially by

admirers of wealth and rank, which your beauty and accomplishments will not fail to attract, you will be

ashamed of your rustic lover, and forget him for a more brilliant destiny than he can offer you,&quot; said
the
&quot;

young man,

sadly.
&quot;

Why, EDWIN, how can you speak thus replied MARY, her large dark eyes swimming in tears and
!

;

threw her arms around his neck, and pressed a kiss, in which all her soul seemed con
she
arose,

centrated,

in his arms, and with the tenderest emotion. her to his heart
&quot;And

upon his lips. The young man took her
you,
EDWIN,&quot;

dre&quot;w

her beautiful eyes to his, changed, on my return ?
&quot;

she resumed, as she turned &quot;shall I find you un
to

The young man gave her a look which seemed say that the sun and stars, and even the pillars
the universe would
fall,

of

before he could forget or

cease to love a being so incomparably fair. Full of confidence, hope, and love, the young people were forming plans for the future, which
rose before their
glorious, radiant with

flowers,

young imaginations, bright and rainbows, and redolent of when Mrs. MOKE retained to the room and

said
&quot;

:

MARY, dear, the coach will be here in an hour, to take you to the cars had you not better get your
;

bonnet and

all

your things ready ?

I will find that

62

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
fol

paper which contains the directions you are to
low, when you arrive in New York.&quot; She sat down by the table and unlocked an
toir,

escri-

which she placed before
its

her,
to

over

contents.

The paper
;

and began to turn which she had just

alluded was soon found
old
letters,

her

attention

but on turning over some was arrested by one

addressed to herself, in the unmistakable hand writing of her dead husband, with the seal unbroken.

The mere

finding one of her husband s letters would of itself cause no surprise for she had preserved

many

of these treasures

case, was, that

an unsealed

but the mystery, in this letter, which she had

never seen nor read, should have remained there, through so many years, undiscovered. The sight of
times in
stirred

that new-found missive brought back again the old all their freshness. How her heart was

by the memories it awakened of those days, so bright and happy, when her life was crowned with the strong and devoted love of a husband. Her
eyes
filled

with tears as she broke the
if

seal.

It

seemed as
speak
to

her beloved husband was about to
his

her from
letter

home

in

paradise.
:

She

opened the
&quot;

and read aloud, as follows

MY

EVER-BELOVED WlFEt
about to set out on another voyage, und not knowing

&quot;Being

what accidents may befall you or me, I commend you to the care of that Brotherhood of which I have so long been a member. Should
a time

come when you

will

need sympathy, protection, or

aid,

do

not hesitate to follow the directions herein given.

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
&quot;

63

The

secretary in the east

the letter G.
side of

You

will find in it a small sealed packet,
figiires

room contains a drawer marked with on one
and emblems, with directions
in

which are certain

Should the contingency above referred to occur, regard to its use. use it as advised. It contains the SIGNET or KING SOLOMON.

Every Freemason who has stood under the Royal Arch will com prehend its silent appeal, and no one who sees it will dare to turn
a deaf ear to the cry of distress sent forth of a companion, be he living or dead.
&quot;

by the wife and children
&quot;

Heaven

bless

my

dear wife and babes!

JAMES

MOKE.&quot;

Mrs.

MORE

read

this

epistle

with the deepest

emotion.

She remained in silent musing for a few minutes, and then started up, saying as some new

f&amp;gt;4

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
&quot;

Who knows but thought seemed to strike her Providence has designed that this discovery should be made at this time for some wise and good
:
&quot;

purpose ?

Taking from her pocket a bunch of keys, she passed into the east room. Opening the drawer Indicated, she soon found the mysterious packet, and

examined

it

attentively.

On

one side was a drawing,

representing the key-stone of an arch, with a circle in the center, around which appeared the following

mystic letters

:

&quot;

H. T.

W.

S. S. T.

K.
:

S.&quot;

On
&quot;

the reverse were these words
o

lum who can read

the (E-alrattetic 2f etferg

:

|lemcmkv

tjouv obligation.&quot;
&quot;

My

dear

child,&quot;

said Mrs.
&quot;

MORE, as she returned

to

the sitting-room,

lifted

from

my

heart.

a heavy load of anxiety is I feel, indeed, that we are

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

65

surrounded with an invisible protection, and com

prehend now the source of those mysterious supplies which in times of trial and need have never failed
to

appear.

MARY,&quot;

she

added, solemnly,

&quot;your

father, from his grave, to-day reaches forth his arm

and protect you. Take this packet, the I feel that it will prove Signet of King Solomon If sorrows encom for you a protecting talisman. it will bring you consolation. If dan pass you,
to guide

gers threaten you,

it

will

secure

you protection

and

aid.&quot;

While Mrs. MOEE was speaking, the carriage, which was to bear the maiden away, drove up to
the gate;
adieus,

and, after

many embraces and

tearful

MARY

took her place in the coach, which

rolled rapidly away.

The

grief-stricken circle

gazed

after her,

through

their streaming tears, till the carriage disappeared behind the high hills, and then returned to the

house.

Heaven

bless

and protect you,

MARY MORE

!

Captain JAMES MORE, for some years before his death, had been an active and enthusiastic member
of the Ancient

and Honorable Order

of Freemasons,

and was known as one of its brightest ornaments. Fully comprehending and completely imbued with the lofty and benevolent spirit of the institution, his heart and hands were ever ready to respond to the

66

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

calls of the suffering and poor, with a munificence limited only by his means. No brother ever appealed to him, either on the Square&quot; or under the Arch,&quot;
&quot; &quot;

without receiving substantial aid, and, what was oftentimes of far greater value, kind and encouraging

Thus he became dear to and when he was called from his labors, to rest in the more perfect Lodge above, his brethren mourned for him with a sincere and heart
words and useful advice.
the Brotherhood
;

felt

sorrow.

Silently
duity,

and invisibly, yet with unbending assi they watched over his bereaved family, and,

by judicious arrangements, provided so liberally for the wants of the widow that she was not only pos
sessed of every comfort, but also able to give her daughters a thorough and practical education.

She often wondered how her limited income could go so far and procure so much, and was frequently
suprised, when she settled her quarterly bills with various tradesmen, to find the amount but

not a

little

more than a quarter or third as large as she had supposed it to be. But now she comprehended all. On reading her husband s letter so long lost the truth directly flashed upon her mind. Having thus had personal experience of the power and benevolence of that mysterious and universal Fraternity, she now felt
little

her daughter, wherever she might wander, would always be within its reach, and the object of
that
its

constant care

;

and she did not doubt that the

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
&quot;

67

Signet of King Solomon,&quot; which that beloved child bore with her, would answer some good purpose, in
case of need.

to

These considerations served, in a good degree, remove those painful misgivings and dark fore

bodings she had previously felt, and she resumed her household duties with a lighter spirit and more
cheerful heart.

THE

ICN IGKHT.

KXOW ST

tliou

what

s

said

when from thy door
full of grace!

The sons
&quot;Behold

of sorrow see thee pass?
his brow,

how

He smiles upon And fears nor

the suppliant poor,
fever nor infection,

But seeks the anguished sufferer s bed, And charms to peace the throbbing head,

With deeds of

true

affection.&quot;

CHAPTEE

IY.

BOUT

live

o clock on the same day

near the time of the departure of the train which connects with the New

York steamers

at Fall River

a gen

tleman, dressed entirely in black, was seen to enter the station of the Old Colony and Fall

River railroad, in Boston. He entered by the west door, and advancing to the large

apartment appropriated to the use of the male pas sengers, his searching gaze swept over the crowd, and finally rested on a tall and benevolent-looking

gentleman who stood some distance from him, on the opposite side. This person was General OLDHAM, the station-master. If one could judge from ap
pearances, he was not far from sixty years of age. He had been for many years a zealous Mason, and

during the dark days of anti-Masonic persecution he remained firm as a rock, in his attachment to the
Order, and its high and holy principles. His en thusiasm did not decline, but rather increased as he

advanced in years, and no Brother, or member of a
Brother
in vain.
s family, in distress,

ever appealed to him His Masonic obligations were not lightly

72

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
strict

assumed, and therefore lie esteemed a pliance with them to be a religious duty.
After a few moments, the stranger,

com

who had been

silently regarding him, caught his eye, and immedi ately raised his right hand, with a peculiar motion.

The General seemed

to understand the signal

;

for,

pressing through the throng of waiting passengers, he hastened toward the stranger, and the two shook

hands with the cordiality of old friends, although they were personally unknown to each other. They
conversed apart for a few minutes, when the tall gentleman made a motion to a person who at that

moment was passing by with a small trunk hand, and who directly joined them.
&quot;

in

his

This

is

the conductor of

the train,

sir

Mr.

CLAFLIN&quot;
&quot;

said the station-master to the stranger.

He

your request is complied with.&quot; The three then advanced to a point in the room

will see that

where they could look into the ladies apartment. The stranger evidently soon found the object of
his search

pointing toward a young lady of That is exquisite beauty, he said to Mr. CLAFLIN the lady, sir;&quot; and at the same time handed him a
;

for,

&quot;

:

&quot;

letter,

saying

:

I will be

much

obliged to you,

if

you
&quot;

will give that,

on your

arrival in Fall River, to

Captain BROWN, of the steamer Metropolis.&quot; It shall be done, rejoined the conductor,
sir,&quot;

who
&quot;I

is

noted as one of the most kind-hearted and

obliging

men living. am very, very

grateful

to

you,

gentlemen,&quot;

THE KNIGHT OF THE TEMPLE.
rejoined the stranger into the street.
;

73

and immediately passed out

That young lady was Miss MOKE.

On

leaving

the

railroad

station,

the

stranger

walked rapidJy toward the Common, and, on reach ing it, seated himself on one of the most retired
benches he could
find,

where he remained
r

for

some

time absorbed in thought. By the description w e have already given of this individual, the reader, no doubt, has already sur mised that he is the same mysterious person who

rescued Miss

MORE from

the villainous

hand

of

MAT

THEW ORALL.
At
length, returning to himself,

he took a
contents.
s

memo
its

randa book from his pocket, and, turning over
leaves, busied

himself

with

its

It

ap

peared to contain a record of each day
labors.
&quot;And

events and

what works of charity have I performed he exclaimed, at last what services of to-day ? have I rendered my suffering fellow-beings humanity which the Recording Angel will deem worthy to be placed to my credit in his awful book ? Two orphan girls, he continued appearing to read from his register provided with comfortable
&quot;

&quot;

;

&quot;

homes.
&quot;

A widow
*

and her young

children, in great dis

tress, relieved.
&quot;

and counsel as

Prisoners visited, and furnished with such aid their circumstances demanded.
4

74
&quot;

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

A poor child
Alas

buried with Christian

rites,

whose

parents were too destitute to provide for these last
offices of affection.

that in this land of plenty a land really overflowing with every comfort and luxury there should still be so many who and through no
&quot;

!

alas

!

fault of their

own

either

are, literally, too

poor

to

die!
&quot;But

the good accomplished, and the sufferings

how insignificant they seem when with the terrible magnitude of the evils compared which yet press, with crushing weight, on a stricken
relieved to-day,

world

!

The few sorrows

I have been able to lighten,

works of charity, were they repeated and multiplied a thousand times, would every day,

and

all

my poor

be but as a few grains of sand lifted from the shore of the boundless sea a few drops of water taken from the great ocean of human misery, which
still still rolls
&quot;

Oh

!

will the

darkly on, apparently as day ever come

full

as ever

!

when

justice

and

love, subduing the world to a brighter and more

equitable rule, shall carry gladness and rest to every

human

dwelling

?&quot;

While uttering these words, the countenance of the stranger was expressive of the deepest pity and
sadness.

and
&quot;

Yet we must not despair, but work with courage he continued, as his eyes fell upon the hope,&quot; cross which was attached to his watch-chain.
&quot;

In hoc signo vinces?

Magna

est veritas et

preva-

THE KNIGHT OF THE TEMPLE.
lebit?

75

Yes,

by

this sign

we

will conquer.

Great
shall yet

is

possess

Love the Truth, and it will prevail. The horizon of the the earth.

Future

already gleams with the light of the coming day. The mighty dirge of grief which, from the beginning,

has ever pealed forth from the bleeding heart of
humanity, shall cease at length, and the worlds, redeemed from the curse of selfishness, shall roll on
in

their majestic

circles,

enveloped in a sublime

chorus of gratitude and love.&quot; The last beams of the setting sun were
twining themselves, like threads of gold,

now en
the

among

green leaves of the grand old trees, which form the glory and beauty of the Common.

The stranger, turning to get a better view of the sunset glory, was surprised to see a little boy not more than four years old, standing directly before
ful

him, and gazing into his face with an earnest, wish He was a child of almost superhuman look.

beauty.

His

finely

formed head was covered with
soft

clustering

curls

of

flaxen hair;

his eyes

of

heavenly blue, although now partially dimmed by tears, shone with intelligence. Altogether, he Avould

remind one

of those pictures

where the

artist

has

endeavored to embody his ideal of the form and
features of the child-Christ.

He was

dressed with

scrupulous neatness, although his well-worn gar ments plainly indicated that he was a child of mis
fortune.

Seeing that the boy desired to speak to him, but

76

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
laid his

was restrained by timidity, the stranger hand upon the child s head, saying, kindly
&quot;

:

What

&quot;Oh,

can I do for you, my little fellow sir he replied, eagerly, my poor
&quot;

&quot;

?

&quot;

!

mamma&quot;

the child could proceed no further emotion choked his utterance.

;

tears

and

His interest and sympathy now thoroughly aroused,
the stranger lifted him up and placed him by his side on the bench, and sought, by encouraging and gentle words, to reassure him. His efforts were soon suc
cessful.

The storm

of grief

having subsided, the

poor boy
&quot;

raised his sweet face trustfully toward that

of the stranger.

Now,

my

pretty

one,&quot;

said the latter,
of

&quot;

what do
is sick

you wish to say ?
&quot;

What

Oh

&quot;

!

replied the

your mamma ? child, poor mamma
&quot;

&quot;

:

doctor won t come and give her medicine, because we haven t money, and mamma cried so because nobody would come to help her, and
.&quot;
&quot;

Enough my
;

poor, poor
&quot;let

child,&quot;

exclaimed the

stranger, hastily;

us go; your

mamma
&quot;

shall

have medicine

The boy
&quot;

hesitated, as

but where do you live ? if he did not
&quot;

fully

under

stand the question.

In what street do you live

?

repeated the former.
&quot;how

&quot;

Don t

know,&quot;

&quot;Do

not

know?&quot;

replied the boy. rejoined the stranger;

do

you
&quot;

expect to find

your way home
it is,

&quot;

Oh

!

I

know where

again but not the name of the

?

street,&quot;

the child quickly responded.

THE KNIGHT OF THE TEMPLE.
&quot;

77

and then,&quot; returned the stranger the beautiful boy by the hand, the two walked taking rapidly across the Common. They proceeded some
Let us hasten,
;

replied the stranger, who could you speak not help smiling at the strange thought of the little
thus?&quot;

boy.
&quot;Why,&quot;

rejoined the child, &quot;mamma said none

but
but

GOD would
.&quot;

help her now, and didn

t

know but

&quot;Well,

well,
&quot;

stranger

;

let

no matter, my brave fellow,* said the us see what we can do for your sick

mamma.&quot;

They entered the house, and, ascending to the third story, the boy led the way to a large but poorly
furnished room, out of which opened another, which was evidently the chamber of the sick lady.

Into this
&quot;

room the

child hastily ran, exclaiming

:

Don t cry any can now get you
things.
you.&quot;

more,

mamma

;

your

little

WILLIE

medicine, and ever so many nice I have found a gentleman who will help

78
&quot;

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

What do you
said

say,

my

sweet child ?

&quot;

said a soft

but feeble voice.
&quot;Madam,&quot;
&quot;

the stranger, advancing to the

met your child a few minutes since, and door, learned that you were sick and without friends. It is my duty to relieve the distressed and protect the
I

weak.

I shall

be happy to render you any assistance

you may
&quot;GoD

need.&quot;

has indeed heard
voice.
&quot;I

my

prayer,&quot;

replied the

same sweet
less.&quot;

am

indeed weak and help

lay there on the bed, like a broken flower, her face flushed with fever, the stranger thought he never saw before a more lovely face. She was yet

As she

young

;

not more than twenty-three, at most

;

and

in

spite of her illness and pain, exhibited a head, face, and features of extraordinary beauty.

The stranger contemplated her
silence.

for a

moment

in

Being familiar with disease in every form, he quickly saw that her illness was the result of care

and anxiety
ous.
crisis,

The

and, although severe, was not danger fever had, indeed, already reached its
;

and, with good nursing, she would be quite restored in two or three days.

Comprehending that in this case acts would be more efficacious than words, he merely told her henceforth to have no more anxiety, that he would see her properly cared for, and then withdrew,
promising to return in a short time. Leaving the house, he proceeded
rapidly
to

THE KNIGHT OF THE TEMPLE.
Washington
street,

79

and entering a drug store, or articles, which he placed in his pockets, and then, exchanging a few words with the propri
dered several

He called at other places, leaving special orders at each, and immediately returned to the comfortless home of his new proteges.
etor, left.

Taking a small bottle from his pocket, he poiired
a portion of
its

head

of

the sick

contents into a glass, and, raising the lady gently, placed the liquid

to her lips, remarking, with a smile so frank

and

benevolent as to inspire, on the instant, the confidence
:
&quot;

fullest

I

but

am not altogether a suitable am perhaps better than none.
such labors,
trust, will

nurse for a lady

;

A woman, how
will

ever, experienced in

soon be here,

who, I

be able to make you quite com
in a

fortable.&quot;

The lady took the draught, and
fell

few moments

The stranger
self at

into an easy slumber. retired to the next room, seated

him

a window, and busied himself with conjectures concerning the history of the two interesting beings
tion.

who had been so unexpectedly cast upon his protec The lady had evidently been delicately reared, and her present condition must have been the result The little of misfortunes of no ordinary character. could give boy, whom he had taken upon his knee, him no satisfactory information. Jt was not from
any motive
of idle curiosity that the stranger desired
to penetrate

the history of

his

unknown charge

;

80

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.*

but as business of importance made it necessary for him to leave Boston in a few days for a distant city,

he wished to know enough of the circumstances
the unfortunate lady to enable

of

him

to

serve her

according to her needs, by restoring her to her friends, or otherwise providing for her.
Steps were now heard in the hall on the third floor, and, the door opening, a lady entered, followed by a porter, carrying a large basket filled with a great
variety of articles provisions, medicines, clothing in a word, everything that might be deemed neces

sary in the present circumstances. &quot;Mrs. NEWTON,&quot; said the stranger, rising, and the lady cordially by the hand, I am glad taking that you decided to come yourself for I can place
&quot;

;

these unfortunate persons in your charge in the fullest confidence that they will be well cared for.&quot;

The lady addressed was a handsome w oman, apparently about forty years of age. Her soft eyes
r

heart,

and pleasant countenance were a true index of her which could deeply feel for, and sympathize She was a graduate with, suffering in all its forms.
of

one of our female medical colleges, and thus
skillful

combined the
nurse.

physician with the experienced

The stranger, after making her acquainted with the condition of the invalid, and giving her direc tions to be foljowed during the night, departed
with a promise that he would return early the next

morning.

3*

THE KNIGHT OF THE TEMPLE.
&quot;

81
to the

Well,

my

little

man,&quot;

said Mrs.

NEWTON

boy, whose sweet face was upturned wonderingly

toward hers,
&quot;

&quot;

what

is

your name

&quot;

?

replied the child; and he came and his tiny white hands trustfully on her lap. placed She took him in her arms and kissed him affec
WILLIE,&quot;

tionately.
&quot;

Mamma, my poor mamma, will she be well soon?&quot;
will,&quot;

he added.

With GOD S help I trust she returned the But don t talk now, you may wake her. I ll give you some supper, and then WILLIE will go to bed, and in the morning he shall see his mamma
&quot;
&amp;lt;;

lady.

quite

well.&quot;

The supper disposed of, and the little boy put NEWTON took a shaded light and seated herself with her work by the side of the sick
into his crib, Mrs.
lady.

About ten o clock the

invalid

awoke and looked

inquiringly around the room, and then fixed her eyes on the nurse. The sight of that lovely face and

those gently beaming eyes
latter at once.
&quot;

won

the heart of the

are

Have no fear, madam,&quot; now surrounded with

said Mrs.
friends
&quot;

NEWTON you who will protect
&quot;

;

you.
&quot;

Do you
&quot;

feel better ?

she added,
to

Oh, yes, much, very much better but tell me,&quot; who is that kind gentleman who came me so opportunely in my despair, to save me and
;

my

poor child ?

&quot;

82

SIGNET OP KING SOLOMON.
&quot;

know him, and yet I do not know him. I have often met him on occasions like this, but do not know his name. He seems to be very sad, as if some great grief were crushing his heart
&quot;

Indeed, the imrse
;

my
I

dear lady, I cannot

tell,&quot;

responded

He is constantly seeking out good and land the unfortunate and wretched and sick, affording
he, so
!

them timely and
&quot;It

substantial

relief.&quot;

is

strange,&quot;
&quot;I

silvery voice;

was

said the sick lady, in a sweet, in utter despair, when he

came,

like a

friendless outcast,

kind Providence, to relieve me a poor, who can make him no return.&quot;
arose, and,

Mrs.

NEWTON now
to the invalid,

mixing a powder,
after fell again into

gave
till

it

who soon

a refreshing slumber, from which she did not awake the following morning.

Early in the forenoon the strarger again made his
appearance.
&quot;

How is your patient this morning, Mrs. NEWTON ?
&quot;

&quot;

he inquired, as he entered the room
&quot; &quot;

;

I hope she

is

quite comfortable ? Oh replied the nurse, she has so far improved that I have already got her up. She will soon be
&quot; &quot;

!

well

;

of future protection

but I think your kind words and assurances have done more for her than

my
for to

medicines.

And now
she added,

an

hour,&quot;

some

affairs of

my

you can take my place I will go out and attend own, and take little WILLIE
if
&quot;

with

me

for a walk;

the morning air will do him

good.&quot;

THE KNIGHT OF THE
After Mrs.

TEMPI^].

83

NEWTON and

the stranger rose and went into the
invalid.

the child had departed, chamber of the

She was dressed, and seated in an easy chair. All traces of fever had disappeared, and her superb
countenance
health.
&quot;

gave

every

indication

of

returning

do you find yourself now ? he inquired, in a tone of tender interest, as he drew a chair to her side, and sat down in it.
&quot;

How

&quot;

I feel myself nearly

recovered,&quot;

she replied, her
&quot;

beaming with emotions of gratitude, through your kindness, and the mercy of Heaven but how can I ever repay you, sir, for your disinterested care
face
;

and
&quot;

kindness?&quot;

You owe me no
&quot;

thanks,&quot;
&quot;

he returned

&quot;

;

I have

but discharged

added

:

HOW

T

my duty and then he immediately can I still further aid you ? Have
;

you friends, to whom you wish to return? what are your purposes? You may command
services.&quot;
&quot;

or

my

I have no friends she replied, my are dead, and I am a lonely outcast a weak parents and helpless wanderer on the highway of life. My

Alas

&quot;

&quot;

!

;

only ambition

is

to procure

some respectable em

ployment by which I can support myself and poor
child.&quot;
&quot;

But

if

you

will tell

me

your

history,&quot;

replied the

stranger, hesitatingly for he did not wish to show an indelicate curiosity in regard to the mystery

84:

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

wliicli

surrounded

her

&quot;I

shall

be better

able

to decide
interests.&quot;
&quot;

what

will

be best to do for your future

Your
&quot;

known,

services, responded the beautiful un rendered to one who had no claims what
sir,&quot;

ever upon you, certainly give you a right to know the history of her whom you have laid under such

mon

strong obligations. But my history is no uncom one on the contrary, it is the usual every-day
;

story of

life

heart crushed.
born,&quot;

hopes blighted love deceived, and a I was It may be told in few words.
&quot;in

she continued,

the city of

New

York.

mother dying when I was quite young, my whose affection was unbounded, procured me the best governesses and teachers which wealth and influence could command, and provided for my
IVfy

father,

education at home.
of eighteen

I had scarcely reached the age

was suddenly taken away, and I was left alone in the world. Mistress of an ample fortune, I had no anxiety regarding the future but I missed sadly the wise
this beloved parent
;

when

counsels and affectionate guidance of my dear father. It was a little after this period that I made the

acquaintance of the person who afterward became my husband. He professed the strongest attach

ment
time

and I believe he was sincere at the was not long before he gained my deepest affection. He was wealthy, handsome, and belonged to one of the most respectable families of New York and it was with the most implicit confito

me

and

it

;

THE KNIGHT OF THE TEMPLE.
dence that I gave him
fortune.

85

my

The

first

part of

hand, my heart, and my our married life was
s

without a cloud.

My

husband

love

seemed

to

increase every day, and when little WILLIE was born it appeared to absorb his entire being. As for
myself, I more than loved him I worshiped him as a god. Thus the few years which rolled oh, how quickly! away only served to make more bright

the golden chain of love which bound us together. Yet, at this time, there was a shadow on my heart

WILLIE was now three years

a kind of instinctive foreboding of coming evil. old, and we desired to

procure for him a suitable governess. Among the various applicants for the place there was a young
lady from Boston,

who brought
and

the highest testimo
qualifications.

nials in regard to character

We

decided to accept her, and in due time she was installed as one of the family. From the first I felt
%

secret dislike to her
it.

;

I could not

tell

why, nor in

any way explain intelligent, and full of

She was a
spirit
;

fine looking girl,

but was infected with
so-called

many

of those

wild notions which the
delight to advocate.

strong-minded women

She was

an individualist of the transcendental school, and recognized no law nor authority but her own

judgment and capricious impulses. Altogether, she was the most unsuitable person we could have But my selected to take charge of our dear child.

husband was pleased with her, and often took her with him to the theaters and opera, and also in his

86
drives,

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

when

it

was inconvenient

for

me

to

accom

pany him. She, too, exhibited a growing fondness for him; and, although my heart was filled with apprehensions, my reason could find no solid ground I fancied, also, that the manner for open complaint. of my husband grew colder toward me every day, while she constantly assumed a haughtier air. Thus, week after week passed away, during which time I suffered all that indescribable agony of doubt which But the dreadful is far more terrible than certainty. was soon to fall, on me. One day, return certainty ing from a walk, earlier than I anticipated or was expected, on passing through the hall to my apart
ments, I heard low voices in one of the parlors. Entering the first room, the door of which was
partially open, I found that the voices issued One of the folding doors the back parlor.

from

was

closed so as to conceal entirely the persons who were conversing behind. Supposing them to be

some

of the servants, I

was

just entering the apart

ment, when, accidentally raising my eyes to a mirror which was placed on the opposite side, I saw a sight

which paralyzed, for the time, all my senses. There, on the sofa, locked in each other s arms, and ex changing the most passionate embraces, accompanied with the most endearing words, sat my husband The terrible agony caused by and the governess this discovery took away from me all power of
!

motion.

by

I stood like one in a trance, or oppressed a hideous nightmare. I learned enough from

THE KNIGHT OF THE TEMPLE.
their conversation to convince

87

me

that a criminal
for weeks.

intimacy had existed between them

At

length I gathered sufficient strength to steal frcm the hated place, and withdraw to my own chamber.

For a time I remained as

in a dream.

I could not

comprehend the calamity which had befallen me. I could not believe that my married life, that opened
and beautiful so bright with love, hope, and would come to so dreadful a termination. Oh the thought was too horrible and yet it was A serpent had been gliding among terribly true. the flowers of my domestic paradise, and poisoned them, every one. My brain reeled my heart seemed to be breaking I felt that I could no longer breathe under that hated roof. I thought not of taking any advice I only thought of getting away from that pestilential atmosphere which was suffocating me. I hastily packed a few clothes into a carpet-bag, and
so fair

confidence
!

;

;

;

;

placing in my pocket a considerable sum of money I had by me, I called my little boy, and silently left
the house.

We

wandered about some time, without

wish was to get as far from knowing whither. New York as possible. At length I found myself in the Fourth avenue, near Twenty-eighth street.

My

There was a train of cars on the track, bearing the letters New York and Boston, apparently ready to start. Taking my child in my arms, I entered one

No of them, and soon left New York far behind. one who has not experienced the same, can tell how
utterly desolate the heart is

when

it

is

robbed, in

88
tins

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

manner, of

its

worshiped

idol.

Had my

hus

band died, good, loving and true, I should still have had the memory of his truth, and love, and virtue to
console
to

me

a reunion in

could have looked forward with hope Heaven but crushed and broken,
;

without aim or ambition, I was incapable of exertion. My sweet, loving boy was all that attached me to
life.

For some time

after

my
;

arrival in Boston, I

boarded with a private family
gradually lessening, I
felt

but finding

my means

the necessity of greater and finally took these rooms, hoping that economy, I might, by sewing, succeed in providing the neces
saries of
life.

But

length my stared us in the face.
last

in this I was disappointed. At cent was expended, and starvation

Poor

little

WILLIE cried

for

not give him. Seeing me weep, he tried to comfort me, in his childish manner. I made him comprehend, as well as I could, our
bread, which I could
helpless situation.

That night I

fell

into a

heavy

slumber, and, on awakening the next morning, was in a high fever. My thoughts wandered, and I was not capable of collecting my ideas until some time in
afternoon, when, parched with thirst, I called WILLIE to get me some water. He brought it to me,

the

mamma, don t cry any more and find somebody to bring you go medicine and help you. No, no, my child, I replied, you will get lost, and there is none now to It appears that ah day, although help us but GOD. from hunger himself, he had been suffering terribly
saying
:

There, dear

;

WILLIE

will

1

THE KNIGHT OF THE TEMPLE.

89

forming some childish plans by which he could make

Perhaps it was GOD who inspired him with the idea for he stole out of the house unobserved, and I did not see him again
his poor

mother comfortable.

;

until

he returned with
recital

you.&quot;

During the
stranger s
terest
&quot;

of

this painful history, the

countenance exhibited the deepest in
said he, after meditating some not have been too hasty in leaving

and commiseration.
dear
madam,&quot;
&quot;

My

time,

may you

your home?

Your husband, it is true, wronged, most cruelly wronged you. His senses might, for the time, have been fascinated by that depraved woman, while his heart may have remained loyal, and may even now be calling, in its agony, for its
first
love.&quot;

&quot;Oh!
&quot;

I wish

it

were
is

but even this hope

she replied, quickly; denied me. I have received
so,&quot;

life since, and he has become a confirmed libertine. The wretched girl who led him to forget his honor deceived and deserted him, and then he plunged into the lowest and most criminal debauchery.&quot; he responded; &quot;the &quot;And yet we know human heart is an inscrutable mystery, and men of strong and craving natures often resort to the

intelligence in regard to his

not,&quot;

excitements of

unlawful

love,

as others
in the

seek to

drown unhappy
bowl.&quot;

recollections

intoxicating

She looked

at

him with an

eager, wistful gaze.

90
&quot;

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
Yes,&quot;

he continued
affection

&quot;

;

your husband

may be
&quot;

saved,
&quot;

and his
!

restored.&quot;

Oh
By

if

I could believe

it,&quot;

she exclaimed

but

how?&quot;

your presence, gentleness, and beauty,&quot; he which, by awaking memories of the olden replied of the sweet days of innocent enjoyment and time,
&quot;
&quot;

;

chaste love, might break the dark spell that, perhaps, has only momentarily chained and led away his

My dear madam,&quot; he added, after a pause, I have somewhat changed my plans in regard to you. Will you confide in me, and allow me to
senses.
&quot;

guide
&quot;

you.&quot;
!

Oh

yes,

yes,&quot;

she replied, eagerly
right.&quot;
&quot;

&quot;

;

I feel you

know
&quot;

best what

is

to-morrow evening I go to York, and shall expect you to accompany me. In this world we cannot expect life to be all sun
Well,&quot;

he added,

New

shine, nor its sky entirely cloudless.

We

all

have

sorrows and reverses to bear, and need mutual for

bearance and

charity.&quot;

He

arose,

and bidding her hope

for the best,

and

reiterating his assurances of protection,

he departed.

THE

&quot;

A

snare

!

a most infernal snare
all its

!

E en

hell

Itself,

with

malice

infinite,

Would burn with blushes

hotter than

its

flamea,

On

being charged with deeds so

foul.&quot;

CHAPTEK
E
left

V.

at the railway the departure of waiting the train for New York. When the
station,

MAHY MORE

car-room door was opened, the sta
tion-master, approaching her respectfully, notified her that the cars were ready, and

The passen were soon in their places, the last bell gers rang out its warning peal, and the express train swept away with the speed of the wind over its iron
kindly escorted her to a seat.
track, bearing our beautiful heroine

onward

to

new

scenes,

new

labors, and, perhaps, to

new

trials.

On arriving at Fall River, the conductor (Mr. CLAFLIN) attended her to the steamboat, and saw her safely seated in the ladies cabin. Then, wishing
her a prosperous journey, and saluting her courte From the ladies cabin he went ously, he retired.
to

the captain s office, and delivered intrusted to his care by the stranger.

the

letter

In a few minutes the magnificent steamer was on her way. Onward she sped in her majestic course
over the calm waters toward the great metropolis of the United States.

94

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

cabin.

Shortly after, Captain BROWN came into the ladies Standing at the door, holding an open letter

in his hand, to

which he frequently referred, he cast

a searching look over the crowd of ladies there col lected, as if he were looking for some particular

on Miss most obscure corner. Scrutinizing her closely, and again That referring to the letter, he said to himself be the young lady. My friend is right she is must
person or friend.
last his eyes rested

At

MORE, who had timidly withdrawn

to

the

&quot;

:

;

indeed a beautiful
&quot;

flower.&quot;

Miss

MORE ? he
&quot;

said, interrogatively,
sat.

advancing

to the place
&quot;

where she

That

is

my

name,

sir,&quot;

she replied, surprised that

any person there. he immediately continued, has commended you to my care and be assured, Miss, while on my boat, you shall want for no atten
&quot;A

she should be

known

to

friend of

mine,&quot;

&quot;

;

tion

which
&quot;

will

conduce to your comfort.
is

Come,&quot;

he added,

supper
table.&quot;

now

ready, and I

will wait

on

you

to the

Grateful for his kind words, she took his arm, and

accompanied him

to the supper-room.

Every
with

traveler over this favorite route remembers,

pleasure, the brilliant spectacle which the cabins of these unrivaled steamers present, when
fully lighted

up

at the tea-hour.

The

tables,

covered

with the richest and costliest tea-service, splendidly decorated with flowers, and loaded with every possi
ble luxury to

tempt the appetite, cannot be surpassed.

THE SNARE.

95

The

beautiful

girl,

leaning on the arm of Captain

BROWN, reared in the seclusion of a rural district, was completely dazzled. She thought she had never
seen anything so magnificent. After supper, learning that she had never been on
a steamboat before, the captain took her through the superb vessel, every part of which she surveyed with the eager curiosity of a child. The engine,
particularly, attracted her attention; and she list ened with deep interest to the captain s explana

tions of its construction,

and wondered how men, so
it

weak and
ease.

insignificant, apparently, could construct
r

such a monstrous pow er, and control

with so

much
he

The captain

s duties

now requiring him

outside,

Telling her that he would procure a carriage in the morning, and send her to her destined abode in the city, and giving some

reconducted her to the cabin.

directions to the chambermaid, he
night, and retired. It was a beautiful, calm

bade her good

night,

and MARY, on

retiring to bed, soon fell asleep, and her mind floated away into the land of dreams. Again she was at

home, pressed to the heart of her dear mother, listening to the merry laugh of her sisters, and the Then she earnest, loving voice of EDWIN MORLEY.

was in her garden, trimming and watering her uow ers, which were undulating gracefully, and
r

nodding to each other
the morning.

in the

balmy atmosphere
;

of

All at once the scene changed

clouds,

96

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

black as night, covered the sky

;

awful thunders

shook the granite shores; red lightnings furrowed the gathering darkness, and through the gloom she

saw the dark countenances of MATTHEW ORALL and MAY MILLWOOD peering threateningly upon her. Hearing a rustling at her feet, she looked down, and saw a loathsome serpent, which, winding among the flowers, glided swiftly by her, and disappeared in a
hedge.

She awoke with a scream.

The chambermaid was

standing over her, looking anxiously in her face. &quot;Are you ill, Miss?&quot; she inquired, kindly.

but I believe I have been dreaming. Thank Heaven she added, it was only a dream.&quot;
&quot;

Oh no
!

;

&quot;

&quot;

!

&quot;

Well, dear

child,&quot;

said the chambermaid,

&quot;

it is

time to get up now we are almost up to the city.&quot; MARY was soon dressed but, on looking around, seemed to miss something.
;

;

Oh your flowers,&quot; quickly exclaimed the kindI placed them in a vase, hearted chambermaid with water, thinking you might wish to preserve
&quot;

!

&quot;

;

them.
&quot;

Here they

are.&quot;

I

am very much obliged to

you.

You

are, indeed,

very kind,&quot; rejoined MARY, and she took the flowers, and kissed those named by little AGGIE, with deep
emotion.

did she think that a serpent was already gliding among and poisoning the sweetest flowers which bloomed in the garden of her hopes

Poor

girl

!

little

and

love.

THE SNAKE,

97

The noble steamer soon rounded up to the dock, and the passengers began to disembark. Not long before the arrival of the boat at New
York, a splendid coach drove down to the landing, from which a well-formed and fashionably-dressed

He gave some order to the coach and .then stationed himself where he could man,
man
alighted.

observe
steamer.

all

the passengers as they passed from the Although his countenance indicated good

nature and some generosity, there was yet something in his air not altogether satisfactory, on a close
scrutiny.

His complexion was too

florid,

thing of a dissipated look about his eyes, designate him as one of the fast men of New

and some seemed to

Y ork.

And

yet there about him, so

was such a manner

much

of real gentility of evident good-breeding, that

one would hesitate some time before pronouncing him such. When the passengers began to land, he examined closely every lady as she passed out of the
boat.

At length

his eyes were riveted

on a most

beautiful girl, who was just crossing leaning on the arm of Captain BROWN.
&quot;That

the platform,

superb creature

said to himself,
her.

must be the one,&quot; he and immediately hastened toward

Captain
just

handing her
laid his

BROWN conducted her to a coach, and was in, when the gentleman approached,
hand on her arm, saying
&quot;

and
&quot;

:

Miss MORE, I believe ?

You were going

to

r

Seminary near Union square ?

98
&quot;

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
I

am Miss

MORE,&quot;

she replied

&quot;

;

and that

is

the

place of
&quot;We

my

destination.&quot;

expected

thought best to inconvenience of finding your have a carriage waiting for you.
arm?&quot;

you this morning, and it was meet you here, and save you the

way

there alone.

I

Will you take

my
;

The captain looked
but, as everything

at the

appeared

right,

gentleman doubtingly he resigned his

charge into his hands, and, with many wishes for her happiness and prosperity, bade her adieu, and returned to his boat.

The gentleman, placing Miss MOKE in the carriage, took a seat at her side, and they were rapidly whirled along up Broadway toward the Fifth avenue.
coach drew up before one of the most aristocratic mansions in that
After a few minutes
drive, the

fashionable thoroughfare. The gentleman, with great gallantry, assisted the young lady to alight and, ordering a porter to take
;

in her trunks, conducted her to the house.

and unsophisticated beauty was com dazzled by the splendor of that mansion. pletely She fancied she was in the fabled palace of ALADDIN. Such heavy, massive furniture, gorgeous tapestry,
artless
soft

The

Turkey

carpets,

never seen before.
fusely

The
all

and gigantic mirrors, she had parlors and halls were pro
costliest pictures

ornamented with the

--works

of the first artists

proofs of the good taste of the

proprietor.

THE SNARE.
&quot;

99

Miss

MORE

said the

consider herself at home, here,&quot; gentleman, casting upon her a look of
will

admiration, which
crimson.
until next
&quot;

caused her face and

neck to

The summer term does not commence
week
r

the meanwhile, you will have time to get well rested, and see some of the objects It will of interest for w hich our city is celebrated.
;

in

be a pleasing task to
so
lovely.&quot;

me

to act as cicerone to

one

He
to

left the room, and directly a maid appeared show MARY her chamber. Leading the way,

she

furnished

conducted the young girl to a luxuriouslyapartment, ornamented with vases of

fresh flowers, pictures, and statuettes, in the highest After seeing that everything was style of art. properly arranged for the comfort of the new occu

maid withdrew, casting a curious look on the sweet girl, who had taken a seat at the open
pant, the

window.

She is very handsome, truly,&quot; said the maid, as she descended the great stairway to the hall. It
&quot; &quot;

is really

too

bad

so fair a flower.
it

of the colonel to think of destroying Oh these fashionable folks but
! !

s

none of

my

business.&quot;

Although pleased with her reception, MAKY was by no means at ease. A vague fear, which she
could not throw
off,

filled

her heart

;

a serpent
;

seemed

appeared to lurk

a danger under every picture. She took the .bouquet, the love-offering of her sweet sister
to hiss

upon her from every flower

100

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

AGGIE, and kissed, over and over again, the flowers
the beloved ones she

which that affectionate child had named to represent had left behind in her dear old

home.

Becoming at length partially reassured, she com menced dressing Herself; and had scarcely com pleted her toilet when a servant came to announce that breakfast was ready. She descended to the drawing-room, where the gentleman was waiting to receive her. He politely offered her his arm, and
conducted her to the dining-hall. &quot;Mrs. ALBERTSON, said he to a
tolerably head of the table,
tall,

dark, but

handsome
&quot;

lady,

who was

seated at the

allow

me

to introduce to

you our
air,

expected guest, Miss

MORE.&quot;

The lady welcomed her with a patronizing

and,

begging her to feel perfectly at home, seated her at her left. The party consisted only of these three.

The breakfast was
tleman
himself

delicious

witty, intelligent,

and elegant. The gen and well-informed made

charming, ar-d enlivened the repast with anecdotes illustrative of persons and places in many New York, and soon MARY began to feel that she

was among friends indeed.

The breakfast

over,

MARY

returned to her room to

write letters to her friends.

The gentleman
self at

retired to his library, seated

him

a desk, took from his pocket a letter, and, spreading it open before him, read it attentively.
&quot;

&quot;Well,&quot;

he

said,

speaking to himself,

&quot;

ORALL has

THE SNARE.
;

101

not overrated her beauty she is worth her weight If I could but win the love of this sweet in gold.
angel, I should be happier than

an

emperor.&quot;

wandered upward, and rested for a time on a picture which hung opposite him on the wall. It was the portrait of a young lady of exquisite loveliness, who seemed to look down

At

this

moment

his eyes

upon him, her eyes beaming with and affection.

love, confidence,

sigh of regret escaped him, as he exclaimed Why, oh why did I throw away so much joy, and cast myself into this burning tide ? But it mat
:
&quot;

A

!

ters not

;

I

am

in the whirlpool,

and there I must

play,

vortex.&quot; drags Pausing for a few minutes, he took pen and paper, and wrote as follows
:

till it

me down

into its dark

NEW
To ME. MATTHEW ORALL DEAR SIR Your description
:

YORK, June

25, 185-.

of the person

was

perfect.

The

bird was caged without difficulty; but it remains to be seen whether she will sing. I inclose your reward two hundred dol
lars.

If I

leave this

life

can gain the love of this girl, I will marry her, and of debauchery, of which I am heartily ashamed.
Yours,
etc.,
J.

S

.

He
letter,

inclosed two one hundred dollar notes in this

placed

it

in

Not long after, town to attend to his business.

an envelope, and sealed it. he dressed himself, and went down

He had

scarcely

entered his counting-room before he was joined by three gentlemen, all elegantly dressed, and exhibiting

102

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

that exquisite polish which distinguishes the aris tocracy of New York. Although they moved in the

highest circles, and were thrifty merchants, it was plain to be seen, from their conversation, that they

were the most unprincipled roues in the world. I say, colonel,&quot; said one of them, I am head
&quot;
&quot;

and ears
&quot;

in
!

love.&quot;
&quot;

Indeed
is

replied our gentleman
time?&quot;

&quot;

;

again

!

And

who
&quot;

the fair charmer this
is

That

the other.

mouth

!

what I can t make out, replied But such eyes, hair, complexion, and By Jove I would give a thousand dollars
exactly
&quot;

!

for one kiss from those rosy lips &quot;But where did you see her?&quot; asked the gentle
!

&quot;

man.
&quot;I

was coining from Boston,

last night,
&quot;

on the

when I saw a Metropolis,&quot; rejoined the former, young lady, beautiful enough to tempt a saint to I tried every way to get near her, to perdition.
offer

some

civility,

and thus get

into a conversation

with her; but she was so jealously guarded by the captain of the boat, and a dragon of a chamber

maid, that I found
pursuit in
&quot;

it

impossible, and so gave
said the gentleman

up the
&quot;

disgust.&quot;

It is well

you

did,&quot;

;

that

piece of dimity belongs to
to

me

;

she was on her
up.&quot;

way
but

meet me.
&quot;

So you must give her
&quot;

The

devil

!

exclaimed the

man
;

in

love
is

&quot;

;

honor among

thieves,

you know

so here

my hand,

a pledge that I will not molest

you.&quot;

THE SNARE.
-

103

come, gentlemen,&quot; said the man who was addressed as colonel, the girl is a splendid speci men of her sex, and I am proud of my conquest
&quot;But
&quot;

;

and
&quot;

if

you

will

meet me to-morrow evening I
&quot;

will

introduce

you.&quot;

we ll be and pay our court to the new beauty.&quot; Now, these four men were gentlemen of wealth and standing in New York, of undoubted integrity
Agreed,&quot;

exclaimed the three at once

;

there,

and honor in all business transactions and yet they could coolly and deliberately conspire to destroy female innocence without hesitation, or one com
;

punctious twinge of conscience. At three o clock, the gentleman, or the colonel, as his companions-iri-evil called him, returned to his
princely residence on the Fifth avenue to dine.
to

The dinner passed off pleasantly. MARY seemed have become accustomed to the place, and

friends.

apparently enjoyed the society of her new-found The colonel made himself agreeable. He
deferential

was

and

polite

;

and when the dinner was

over, invited the ladies to take a drive with

him

in

the upper part of the city.
to her room to prepare for the while the colonel, after a brief conversa excursion, tion with Mrs. ALBERTSON, went out to order the

MARY withdrew

carriage.

When

all

in the door, waiting for the house-keeper.

was ready, MARY descended, and stood She soon

appeared, but without any preparation for the ride.

104
&quot;

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
I ani sorry to disappoint

you,&quot;

she said

&quot;

;

but I

remember an engagement this afternoon, and must beg Miss MORE to excuse me. It will make no matter you will enjoy the drive quite as well as if I
;

were with

you.&quot;

MARY
priety

hesitated a
it,

moment but
;

in

although

Mrs. ALBERTSON

seeing no impro did not

accompany them, descended the marble steps, and the colonel handed her into the coach. Entering after her, he closed the door, and the carriage rolled

away over the Bloomingdale
It -was a

road.

charming evening.
perfume
of

The

air

with

the

millions

of

flowers,

was fragrant and

MARY

thought, as she approached the country, she

had never seen anything half so fair. Deeply imbued with poetic sentiments, no one could ap
preciate the beautiful in nature or art better than she, and she greatly enjoyed the spectacle she now

beheld.

The

colonel, discovering the bent of her tastes,

shaped his conversation to suit them. His observa tions were so just, his remarks so poetical, and his
opinions generally so correct, that

MARY S

confidence

was completely gained. She laughed and clapped her pretty hands in her innocent joy, and was so
entirely unsuspecting that she did not perceive that the gentleman had quietly wound his arm around

her waist, and was drawing her more and more closely to him.

The

carriage

now

whirled along the banks of the

THE SNARE.

105

noble Hudson, affording a very fine view of the opposite shore and its wild, romantic scenery.
After a drive of an hour and a half in various di

through wild glens, over hills, and through winding valleys, the coach stopped before an elegant little cottage, almost entirely concealed from view by
rections,

a profusion of umbrageous trees.
&quot;This
&quot;

is

my

country-house,&quot;

said the

colonel;

we

will stop a short
ll

then we

time to breathe the horses, and start on our return to the city.&quot;

They alighted, and MARY examined the environs The colonel guided of the cottage with admiration.
her over the grounds, and pointed out and explained to her the respective properties of the rare and
beautiful flowers

and plants which bordered the
Then, ascending a hill of con they seated themselves on a rustic

numerous walks.
siderable altitude,

bench to enjoy the magnificent prospect that opened
before them.

The day was rapidly

declining.

The

sun,

undu

lating in a sky of pure amber, over the Palisades, wrapt these celebrated cliffs and the intervening
river in a sheen of glory.

The

their evening songs in the adjacent woods,

birds were chanting and the

calm Hudson rolled with a
its

soft, silvery

cadence over

sandy shore. All nature seemed to overflow with melody and song, and gleam with beauty, and dis
solve in love.
&quot;

Oh

&quot;

!

exclaimed the enthusiastic
;

&quot;

girl,

I could

remain here forever

all is

so calm, lovely, and in-

5*

106
spiring
love,

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

;

and

it all

reminds

me

so of his beauty
is

and
but

who has

created the whole, as this glory
himself.&quot;
&quot;

a reflection of
&quot;

the worlds rejoined her companion swim in glory, and all nature dissolves in love. Love is the life of the universe, of gods, angels, and men.
True,
true,&quot;
;

We

cannot

live

without love.

What more

desolate

than a soul uncheered by its blessed light! But come, my dear girl, it is time to return now. The horses are refreshed, and are impatient to be upon the road again.&quot;

He
down

held her small, white hand in his as he led her the hill, and through the garden and park, to

the carriage. The horses dashed gaily down the road, and they were soon brought to the colonel s residence in the

where tea was already Waiting for them. After tea, the colonel retired to his library, and, throwing himself on a luxurious lounge, appeared to
city,

be

lost in meditation.
&quot;

That girl is a jew el! at last he exclaimed If her heart is unoccupied, I must wear it.
r
&quot;

&quot;

;

and
wijl
!

it

But, suppose she already loves ORALL wrote, I think, that she was engaged to a down-east rustic. Well, it will not be hard to sup

be easy to win her.

him if I can only keep her in my power a few days more it will be accomplished.&quot; As he spoke thus, he casually glanced at the oppo site wall. The picture that face of radiant beauty seemed to look down reproachfully upon him. He
plant
;

THE SNARE.
turned away his head, as
tory glance.
&quot;Yes,&quot;

107

if

to avoid the

condemna

he resumed,
first

&quot;

she shall be mine, and I will
night.&quot;

make my

essay this very
hell.

He
&quot;

arose,

and rang a

A servant
&quot;

directly ap

peared at the door.

Bring some
if

lights,&quot;

he ordered,

and ask Miss

MORE

she will favor

me

with her presence a few

moments in the library.&quot; The lights were immediately brought, and not long
after

MARY
The

liness.

entered the room, a very vision of love colonel gazed upon her with undisguised

admiration.
&quot;I

voice bland

have sent for you, Miss MARY,,&quot; he said, in a and soft, because, knowing your fond
&quot;

ness for study, I desired to
this

make you
it

familiar with

as your own. YOU will find in these cases a great variety of select works in history, poetry and philosophy. I think you are
to use

room, and wish you

fond of

poetry;&quot;

of BYRON,

and he took down a superb copy and seated himself on the sofa where she
the volume at the

was

reclining.

He opened
the beautiful

commencement
:

of

poem
is

entitled

&quot;

Parisina&quot;

and read

with good effect the following lines
&quot;Now

the time

when from

the boughs

The

Now

nightingale s soft note is heard; is the time that lover s vows
soft in every

Seem
&quot;You

whispered

word.&quot;

remember,&quot;

he continued,

&quot;when

in the

108
country, a

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
little

while since, you spoke of love as a necessity of the universe its very life? Well, I agree with you. Life without love is a mere desert,

without one oasis, or flower, or cooling fountain. Now, tell me. dear girl, did., you ever feel love as a necessity of your being a strong, earnest, overpow
;

ering yearning for a kindred soul, who could reflect your sentiments, share your thoughts in short,

become the complemental part
&quot;Indeed,
&quot;

of

yourself?&quot;

sir,&quot;

me

you ask me if I do not answer.

she replied, somewhat confused, a strange question, and must excuse

Did I

feel

those strong

yearnings, or rather did I cherish an affection for some one, the sentiment would be too sacred to be

made
Not

the subject of discussion or
at all disconcerted,

discourse.&quot;
:

he proceeded
first

&quot;Do

you
&quot;

believe in love at

sight

?&quot;

having had any experience of the kind,&quot; she I can neither believe nor disbelieve.&quot; rejoined,
&quot;Not
&quot;

Do you

think

it

possible for a

man

to fall in love
till it

with a portrait, and cherish the affection
to

comes

be an overpowering passion ? until he is ready to brave every danger, and make any sacrifice to find
its original?&quot;
&quot;

Your

questions,

beyond

my

she returned, are entirely comprehension you should ask one more
&quot;

sir,&quot;

;

metaphysics and philosophy of love than a young and inexperienced girl like myself can
skilled in the

possibly
&quot;

be.&quot;

But you have a

heart,

and are a

woman,&quot;

he

THE SNARE.
resumed
&quot;

109

and women learn by instinct what men learn by experience and philosophy. But listen I have a friend who some time since received the
;
:

almost superhuman awakened in his heart the deepest loveliness, sentiment of love. It was his constant companion by day and night. The passion grew with him till it
portrait of

a young lady of
it

and

overmastered

all

other.

He

sought everywhere for

the original, but, for a long time without success. At length he was informed that she was a resident
of Massachusetts, but State.

was soon

to leave for a distant

Learning morning she would arrive in New York, and having ascertained that she was personally unacquainted with the friends she contemplated visiting, he formed a plan to enjoy
It was,

that on

a certain

her society, and get an opportunity to press his suit. no doubt, a great crime he meditated and

accomplished, but his love was also great. His plan succeeded the unsuspecting girl, believing him to have been sent by her friends, went with him without
;

His love now became worship. He adores the very ground on which she treads but as yet he has not had courage to tell his love. Now, tell me, Miss MARY,&quot; he added, what would
hesitation to his house.
&quot;

;

you do, were you that young girl? Would not such profound affection and devotion touch your heart,

and awaken an answering sentiment within What another in ray place might
&quot;
&quot;

&quot;

it ?

do,&quot;

she re

sponded, much I might pity Iris

I

know not but I could not
;

love,

however

misfortunes.&quot;

110
&quot;Look

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
at
this,&quot;

said the

miniature portrait from it to her that picture
;

his
is

he drew a and handed bosom, the one which inspired
colonel, as

this fatal

love.&quot;

to her dismay,
&quot;

Pressing the spring lightly, the case opened, and, it disclosed her own features.
&quot;

Yes, you, dearest girl,&quot; he proceeded, are the original, my soul s idol, and I am the unfortunate victim of a hopeless love.&quot; &quot;What! &quot;cried the terrified

girl,

almost with a

scream, rising up, and standing pale and trembling before him you are not Mr. ARMSTRONG, the prin
&quot;

It see clearly the calamity which had befallen her. was plain that she was the victim of some deep-laid
plot, the

purpose of which was her ruin. But why should any one wish her ill ? she knew of none she

had injured. Then she remembered the words of the strange man who rescued her from the hands of MATTHEW Even now spirits of evil are planning ORALL schemes to bring you to harm.&quot; He then knew of enemies and plots. The more she indulged in con She never jectures the more she became confused. once dreamed that ORALL, bad as he was, would go so far. Indeed, she had thought so little of his attempt to carry her off that she had never men
&quot;

:

tioned

it

to her

mother or

lover.

112

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

the

Seeing no means of escape, and utterly prostrated, unhappy girl sobbed herself to sleep.
Sleep,
in

Meanwhile, Colonel SCEANTON was walking the
floor of his library, considering his

probable pros

pects of success.
&quot;

see,&quot; discouraged. said if she could not love her abductor she &quot;she

was evident that he was not he said to himself, Let me
It

might pity him. Well, that is something. but a step from love, as the poet says
:
&quot;

Pity

is

Love walks with pity under arm.
;

&quot;

Courage, then

I shall win her

yet.&quot;

MAKY MORE was

indeed in the

coils of the serpent.

EFFECT OF THE SIGNET.

And

fain

would her sons

all

her high precepts keep,
all peril

Defending the right
Bringing smiles of

amid

and danger,

new

joy to the eyelids that weep,

And

befriending the poor, the oppressed, and the stranger:
This, their life-task, her due,

By

her teachings pursue,
in view;

With the Eye of Omniscience forever
Till their labor accepted, as

columns of

grace,

In the temple eternal, hereafter have

place.&quot;

MART

G. HALE.

CHAPTEE

VI.

ATTHEW ORALL,
nations about the
visited

in his peregri

New York

country, often in search of

adventures
for

and funds.

He had

up

many years, however, well kept his character at home, constantly asso

ciated with that class of persons who were noted for their depraved morals and suc cessful depredations on society. He had thus early

become an expert gambler and able professor of the little joker,&quot; and other ap thimble-rigging,&quot; means of getting possession of the money of proved
&quot;

&quot;

such unsophisticated countrymen as happened to

come

in his way. Falling in with Colonel SCBANTON, in

one of these

visits, that practiced deceiver soon discovered his thoroughly unprincipled character, and often em

ployed him in
description.

affairs

of not the

most honorable

When ORALL was
furious hate

repulsed by Miss MORE, and in

was contriving some scheme .of revenge against her, his thoughts chanced to fall on Colonel SCBAKTON. Knowing well the habits of that heart-

116

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

less libertine, lie

immediately conceived the idea of

of his vengeance. He could thus, also, replenish his exhausted purse for he knew the colonel would pay liberally if he onco
;

making him the instrument

succeeded in placing Miss MORE in his power, which he did not doubt he could easily do.

He directly wrote

the colonel, giving

tion of that beautiful girl, inclosing, at the

him a descrip same

time, a miniature likeness of the maiden, of which,

by some means or

other,

He

proposed to deliver her into his

he had possessed himself. hands for a con*

sideration.

The
and
in
effect,

colonel immediately accepted the proposition, due time the vile scheme was carried into

We

as has been already related. have seen how the colonel sped in his suit.
Skilled in all the

Although he had not made much progress, he did
not doubt of final success.
of the heart,

ways

he believed that in a few days, under his fascinations, that pity, which she confessed she
be, would,

might feel for one in the situation he professed to by a natural transition, pass into love. Consequently, he awoke the next morning, after the

scene in the library, in excellent and all the world.

humor with himself

to our heroine, after a night of disturbed slum she arose in the morning, resolved, as her best ber, course, to appear not to remember the scenes of the

As

preceding evening, but watch closely for any chances Colonel SCRANTON had of escape that might offer.

WHAT THE SIGNET
completely bewildered her.

EFFECTED.

117

His conversations on

general subjects were so agreeable, liis views so just, and then he spoke of his love with so much earnest
ness and apparent sincerity, she knew not what to think. Did he really love her ? or w as he an unprin
r

cipled villain, seeking to ruin her? She did not to hate or pity him. She could not love him for her faithful heart was fast anchored in

know whether
;

the
is

bosom

of

EDWIN MOKLEY.

But, then,

woman

fond of admiration, and will forgive man much if she believes his crimes have been committed through

love of her.

Determined to escape, and knowing that it would be useless to apply to the servants, she resolved to appeal to the honor of the colonel, and persuade him,
if

possible, to restore her to her friends.

The
ing,
late

colonel, however, went out early in the morn and she had no opportunity of seeing him till in the afternoon, when he joined her in one of

the drawing-rooms.

He was unusually courteous for he evidently desired to gain her confidence. He saw she was no ordinary person, and would not be gained through mere passion. Her reason and conscience must be
;

perverted,
artful

and

this

he thought possible through an

and

master.

infernal logic, of which he was perfect It is true, this would require time, and the

much prudence. He knew that to win her he must make her believe that his purposes were
exercise of

honorable.

118

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

Taking a seat by her side, lie said, in a voice soft and tender MARY, dear MARY, I hope you were not
&quot;

:

offended at the- occurrences of

last

evening.

In

abducting you, and keeping you a prisoner in my house, I know I have committed a great crime but then the fatal love which consumes me seems to me
;

a sufficient excuse.

Your own nature

is

so calm

and

gentle you cannot tell what madness and folly even crimes a man may be guilty of who is the victim of

mine. Nay, fair girl, no crimes toward you, sweet one but I cannot refrain from saying how deeply I love you, and how highly I appreciate your unequaled beauty, your graces and accomplishments, both of person and mind. Now, say, dearest,&quot; he added, do you forgive me ?
like

an over-mastering passion
start
; ;

do not

for I meditate

&quot;

&quot;

She knew in her him but his soft, musical words, subdued manner, and assumed tenderness had so confused her reason she could not speak. She sat
girl

The poor

could not answer.
;

heart she could not forgive

there, trembling

under his fascinating gaze,

like a bird

She At length recovering herself, she suddenly arose, and placing her hand on his arm, and looking up into his face with an earnest,
fluttering in the infectious breath of a serpent.

seemed

like

one in a dream.

pleading look
&quot;Oh,

:

sir!

be generous and

just,&quot;

she cried;

&quot;re

lease me,
will

and allow me to go to my friends, and I freely forgive you, and forget that you have ever
I never can

wronged me.

return your love, nor

WHAT THE SIGNET EFFECTED.
voluntarily be yours,

119

and surely you would not out
!

See, rage a poor, helpless girl. Do, do let me go I implore you on my knees!&quot; And the hapless

maiden sank down at his feet. Colonel SCRANTON looked down on the graceful form now bending before him like a drooping flower, and devoured her with his burning glances. His senses inflamed, and his blood on fire, he was deter mined that she should not escape him. Forgetting the plan which he had adopted, and which his reason told him was the only one that could succeed, he aUowed himself to be borne away by the storm
uncontrolled through his dissembled no longer but exclaimed, as he grasped her in his strong arms, and covered her with his vile caresses, Mine you are, and mine you
heart.

of passion that

now raged

He

;

&quot;

shall

be.&quot;

she cried; and, with the strength of she broke from his corrupt embrace, desperation, and fled to the opposite side of the drawing-room, where she stood confronting him in all the dig
&quot;Never!&quot;

He bent his head under nity of offended virtue. the look of withering scorn which she cast upon
him.

At length he
trated rage
&quot;

said, in a voice

hoarse with concen

:

You cannot

tion is already hopelessly

regarded as the favorite
intend
this

Your reputa compromised; you are flower of my harem, and I
escape me.
introduce

evening

to

my

beautiful

mistress to

some

select friends.

So make your-

120

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

self as charming and agreeable as possible, for I want them to see what a brilliant prize I have
won.&quot;

With these words, he
into his library.

left

the room, and passed
girl, in

Left alone, the unfortunate
&quot;

utter despair,

sunk down upon an ottoman, and buried her face in her hands, exclaiming Oh, my GOD is there no
:
!

Oh, my mother, my poor mother how little help do you dream of the terrible fate which has fallen on
?
!
&quot;

your poor child

!

The
and

earth.

helpless girl felt herself deserted by heaven Her position was so new and strange, so
really

whoUy unexpected, she doubted whether she

possessed her senses, or might not be dreaming. She racked her brain to discover some means of
escape, but without success.
&quot;

No
.

prisoner was ever

guarded with more she cried, in a tone of inde Oh, I shall go mad scribable woe, and fell prostrate upon the ottoman,
jealous care.
!
&quot;

nearly deprived of her senses. She must have been in that stupor of sorrow for some time for when she revived, and opened her eyes,
;

the last glimmer of day had disappeared, and the
parlors and drawing-rooms were brilliantly lighted.

She

arose,

and was

just fleeing to her

chamber, when

the door opened, and Colonel SCRANTON appeared, followed by three gentlemen, whom he immediate^ introduced as his best friends, and saying that he

hoped she would

find their society agreeable.

WHAT THE

.SIGNET EFFECTED.

121

The

terror-stricken child, scarcely

knowing where

she was, or what she did, her senses were so be numbed, saluted the gentlemen mechanically, and

advanced a few steps toward the door, as if she would leave the room, when some sudden thought or impression, which she herself could not define,
restrained her, and she returned, and seated herself
at a table

by the

side of a

shaded lamp, and ap

peared to be busy with some embroidery. The three gentlemen were HARRY LORILLARD,

CHARLES BENTON and FRANK BORLAND
of

the

boon

Colonel SCRANTON, whom we have companions already once seen at the counting-room of the latter.

They had come according to agreement to see the colonel s new conquest. If Miss MORE had cherished any hope that she
might appeal to these persons soon have been dispelled.
for protection
it

must

Once only she turned her eyes upon them but the bold, licentious looks they cast upon her, and
;

the significant glances they exchanged with each other and the colonel, made her quickly cast them

down.

The gentlemen conversed some time
so low a tone that she heard nothing

apart, but in

except the words, which caused her cheeks to crimson following with the blushes of virtuous indignation
:

&quot;I

say,

HENRY,&quot;

said

CHARLES BENTON,
?

&quot;is

she

not a most splendid creature
lucky
dog?&quot;

Isn

t

the colonel a

6

122
&quot;

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

By Heaven
&quot;

!

your are right
is

CHARLEY,&quot;

replied

LORILLARD

The

a conquest worthy of a king.&quot; pure-minded maiden felt that she should
;

she

suffocate in that pestiferous atmosphere, and was on the point of rising to escape to her own room, when

the door-bell rang, and in a few seconds a servant presented himself, and announced that two gentle men desired to see Mr. BORLAND at the same time
;

placing in that gentleman s hand two cards. ing the cards a moment, he exclaimed
:
&quot;

Survey

As

I

live,

two of

my

best friends and customers,
!

from Virginia here? They
&quot;

Shall I receive them ; capital fellows will be an excellent addition to our

company ? Now, the colonel, for for any more visitors
strangers
;

certain reasons,

had no

desire

that evening, and especially

yet,

as he could

make no reasonable

objection, he

them.
servant.

signified his willingness to receive Accordingly, they were ushered in by the

After exchanging salutations with them, Mr. BORLAND said
:

&quot;Allow

friends,

me, gentlemen, to present to you General CLARK and Major HENRY,

my
of

Virginia.&quot;

The party received
&quot;

You
&quot;

the new-comers with courtesy. must excuse us, gentlemen,&quot; said General
for

breaking in upon your social circle so unceremoniously; but arriving in New York this
CLARK,

and evening, and obliged to depart in the morning) friend desiring to spend a few minutes with our

WHAT THE SIGNET EFFECTED.

123

BORLAND, we sought him at his hotel, and were told that he was spending the evening here so we
;

quickly replied Colonel SCRANTON, with exquisite politeness and he rang for a servant, and ordered
;

wine to be brought.

The
about

fifty

eldest of the Virginians, General CLARK, was years of age a finely-formed man, with

a countenance somewhat grave, but expressive of a most genial nature. The other was not more than forty, and everything about him indicated a gentle

man

of high cultivation

and

of the

most honorable

Their acquaintance with BORLAND was of a business character, and it is not to be supposed
sentiments.

knew anything of his private habits. The wine passed freely around, and the colonel entertained his new guests in the most agreeable
that they

manner.
&quot;

By-the-by, colonel, you have not introduced your

beautiful

ward

to

my

friends,&quot;

said Mr. BORLAND,

with a sly glance at that gentleman. &quot;True, I forgot,&quot; said the colonel; and, rising, he led the two strangers to the table where MARY was
seated, looking abstractedly at her embroidery. the colonel, &quot;permit me &quot;Gentlemen,&quot; said
to

introduce to you my ward, Miss MORE.&quot; She looked up as the gentlemen saluted her, and cast a scrutinizing glance over their persons. That

124

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

glance seemed to work a sudden -transformation her appearance. The expression of dark despair disappeared from her face, and it became radiant
in

with the light of hope. Her looks were riveted on the two gentlemen ; but she did not speak. They,
in
their
turn,

demeanor.
senses?

gazed in wonder at her strange She pressed her hand upon her heart

did her eyes deceive her? could she believe her No, there was no deception. Have cour child of many sorrows age, oh your deliverance
!

;

is

nigh

!

Yes, her straining eyes saw, unmistakably, the sure signs of safety. Suspended from the watch-

guard of the younger stranger she beheld the cross of jet, with its legend of hope, IN HOC SIGNO VINCES,&quot;
&quot;

worn by the mysterious gentle who had saved her from her former peril while the elder stranger wore a golden key, on which she saw engraved the same cabalistic figures as those drawn on the packet confided to her keeping by her mother. The reaction in her feelings was so strong that for some minutes she could not Colonel SCR ANTON believed that she had speak. really gone mad while the two gentlemen looked at
precisely like the one

man

in black,

;

;

her with a puzzled

air.

length, following an irresistible impulse, she darted to the side of General CLARK, the elder of the

The general placed his arm around the fair girl, and looked down kindly into her face. The scene was so strange and sudden that neither gentleman
could well comprehend
it.

The

colonel

was

for a

moment

disconcerted

;

but

the dark frown which shaded his face for an instant

disappeared, and, in the coolest and blandest
ner,

man
is

he remarked

:

&quot;Do

not be alarmed, gentlemen;

my ward

subject to these fits of insanity; during which she fancies herself the victim of some wicked conspiracy ;
it

will

soon pass
not

off.

I will conduct her to her

chamber.&quot;
&quot;

Oh do
!
&quot;

let

him touch me
;

&quot;

!

she cried, in

by a vile treachery he me into his power, and seeks to destroy me. got And she clung closer to the arm of Oh, save me
terror
;
&quot;

he speaks falsely

!

the general.

That gentleman was much perplexed. The wild looks of the frightened girl, and the strange manner he had noticed from the first, certainly seemed to
confirm the statement of the colonel in regard to the state of her mind and he was about to pass her
;

over to him,
his hand.
&quot;Good

when

his

attention

was arrested by

something which the poor child hastily thrust into
heavens!&quot;

he exclaimed^ as his eyes

fell

126

SIGNET OP KING SOLOMON.
&quot;

upon the object; what new mystery is this?&quot; At the same time he drew the trembling girl closer to
him.

Looking upon the packet, he read
&quot;To

:

him who can read

the cabalistic

letters&quot;

instantly broke the seals, and found a parch It was the ment, neatly and compactly folded.

He

Diploma
this

Folded within of a Royal Arch Mason. he found the &quot;Signet of King Solomon;&quot; a

key-stone, inscribed with the symbol of Eternity, and the mystic letters the ever-enduring

golden

record of an ancient and sacred friendship. It bore also the secret device and initials of Captain JAMES

MOKE.

The packet contained

also

a

jewel

or medal,

WHAT THE SIGNET EFFECTED.
in the

127

form of a double

triangle,

inwrought in gold,

and

richly set with precious
:

stones, bearing this

inscription

&quot;TO

JAMES MOKE,

Pas tev

awl |lop* gutft

Pww

;

KNIGHT OF THE TEMPLE, MALTA, AND THE HOLY SEPULCHEK

PRINCE OF THE ROYAL SECRET
AND

Grand Inspector General of the
&amp;lt;SPES

33cl

Degree,

MEA

IN

DEO

EST.
1

A
ment.

token

of Fraternal Regard.

The general gazed on these tokens with astonish He had known Captain MORE well, and had cherished a brother s love for him to the day of his
death.

he said, in a low voice, you, dear child looking down into the lovely face which was turned
&quot;

And

&quot;

!

anxiously toward him I am his daughter,&quot; she replied, and I seek your protection. Do, do take me away from this
&quot;

&quot;

hated place, and that terrible man.&quot; Colonel SCRANTON trembled with rage and vexa tion. She only raves, my dear general I will con
&quot;

;

duct her to her room, and she will quickly recover.&quot; And he advanced, and took her by the arm.
&quot;

Oh don t
!

let

him touch

me,&quot;

almost shrieked
the general,
more.&quot;

the shuddering girl. Be not alarmed,
&quot;

my

child,&quot;

said

soothingly;

&quot;he

shall

molest you no

At

128
the

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

movement, he shook and sent him staggering for some Touch not this poor paces from where he stood. maiden again,&quot; he said, in a grave and severe she is now under my protection. I do not tone
the colonel
off,
&quot; &quot;

same

time, with a powerful

;

know the motives of you conduct, or by what deception you have obtained possession of
desire to

her person.
friends.&quot;
&quot;

I shall immediately restore her to her
shall
;

No, by the heavens

!

you

not,&quot;

roared the

colonel, beside himself with anger and backed by his three friends, he rushed toward the general. At this moment Major HENRY threw himself be

which the stranger directly recognized; &quot;Heaven has enabled us to rescue this daughter of our deceased companion from the power of a villain.&quot;

At these words the vailed lady visibly trembled. The stranger, in an instant comprehended all. Miss MORE, at this moment, recognized him as her myste
rious benefactor, and, with a cry of joy, she ran to his side, and, taking his hand, said:
&quot;

Oh

!

sir,

your words were, indeed, prophetic
into

!

I

have
&quot;

fallen

snares,

and suffered much

;

but

Heaven has preserved The world is full of

me.&quot;

snares, injustice,
&quot;

my

poor child,&quot; need the arm of Heaven to But Colonel to guide us.

he rejoined

and wrong, and we constantly protect, and its wisdom
;

SCRANTON

has

other

crimes, beside those committed against you, to atone
for,&quot;

he proceeded

&quot;

;

and

this cruelly-abused lady

appears here, to-night, to tion of her wrongs.&quot;

demand

of

him a repara

The lady removed her vail, and disclosed a head and face lovely as a vision of Paradise. She glanced around the room, and fixed her eyes, at last, on the He and his companions seemed transfixed colonel.
with amazement.

WHAT THE SIGNET EFFECTED.
&quot;My

131

wife!

&quot;he

gasped, and staggered backward
feeling that their

into a chair.

The Virginian gentlemen,

was accomplished, and not desiring

to intrude

work on

the privacy of a domestic scene, withdrew, taking with them the grateful girl they had released from captivity, whom they directly conveyed to her friends
at the seminary.

The three
tion before

roues, appalled

by the

beautiful appari

them, and now,

since reflection

had

returned, thoroughly ashamed of the part they had been acting in the earlier portion of the evening, sneaked away, and silently left the house.

The

colonel sat uneasily on his chair,

and the

working of his features bore striking witness to the violence of his emotions while his wife, overcome
;

by her agitations, sank down upon a sofa by the side of* her boy, and sobbed convulsively.
stranger, approaching Colonel addressed him SCRANTON, Your estimable, but ill-treated wife, saved from
:
&quot;

At length, the

want and misery, in a distant

city,

strangers, has come to claim her own, reparation for her great wrongs.&quot;
&quot;

by the charity of and ask some
groaned

Oh

!

heaven, what a brute I have
&quot;

been,&quot;

against so much love, purity, and goodness My crimes are beyond all repara tion. Heaven may pardon me, but I cannot forgive
the colonel,
to sin
!

Oh, my loving, patient, and much-injured myself. wife I dare not ask you to forgive me ; and yet&quot;
!

132

SIG-XET OF KING SOLOMON.
&quot;

although I cannot say a single word to extenuate my guilt, or relieve its terrible blackness, I can call GOD to witness that,

he continued, impetuously

until the fatal
spirit of
evil,

hour when Miss MILLWOOD, that dark
entered

my

house-, I

never had a

thought that was not wholly devoted to you, whom I loved to adoration. And even when she had bound

me

fast

in her voluptuous chains,

and held me

in

absolute thraldom,

my

heart

still

clung to

my

wife.

And when you

my
for

so mysteriously disappeared, and, all efforts to trace you proving fruitless, I gave you

up as dead,

my

agony and remorse were unbounded

;

days I shut myself up, and would see no one. But at length the sense of utter desolation which
oppressed

me became

so intolerable that I rushed

into the world, and, plunging into the fiery whirlpool of guilty excitements, sought thus to

madly

drown all memory of the past. And what a life has Too vile to stand before so much mine been since
!

purity, I relieve

you

of

my

have

is

yours

my

entire fortune.
for

outcast, to

do penance

my

presence. All that I I go forth an sins but I will never
;

cease to pray for your happiness.&quot; He took his beautiful boy in his arms, and pressed him for a moment to his heart, and then, casting a
look of remorse and tenderness

upon

his sorrow-

himself too guilty to stricken wife, whom embrace, he was rushing toward the door, when his wife intercepted him.

he

felt

&quot;

Oh,

my husband my husband
!

&quot;

!

she cried,

&quot;

you

WHAT THE SIGNET EFFECTED.
;

138

have sinned, and I have suffered but I forgive you And she threw herself, weeping, upon his all!&quot;
neck.
&quot;My

which they had possessed so long, and an influence an angel s presence stealing in to occupy their

place.&quot;

Oh

Who

the regenerating power of woman s love can worthily describe the depth of her tender
!

!

ness, or the strength of her affection, or the
!

bound

lessness of her forgiving charity The stranger s sad face w as liglited up with a smile of satisfaction, as lie looked upon this scene,
r

and, after

some kind words

of advice to the recon

he departed, repeating to himself the beautiful lines of GOETHE, that great revelator of the
ciled couple,

mysteries of the

human

heart

:

Here eyes do regard you
In eternity
s stillness;

Here

is all fullness,

Ye

brave, to reward you; Work, and despair not.

he continued, &quot;hatred, lust, and crime &quot;Although,&quot; march over the world to degrade, divide, and destroy, charity and love follow swiftly on their

134

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

and to restore. Yes, through and perseverance, every obstacle patience, shall give way, all vice shall be subdued, and the human race redeemed. Thus LABOK, the great primal
track, to unite, to heal,
love,

curse,

becomes a sublime benediction

!

Through

it,

the unity of humanity is vindicated, and man re installed in his ancient rights. By it, the mighty

stream of progress

is
all

made

age
of

to age,

bearing

sweep onward from and nearer the throne nearer
to

the great Father. Through thy ministry, oh! labor divine once a curse, but now a blessing shall the thundeT-laden clouds which gloom over
!

creation s face, pouring their torrents of vice

and

misery on a groaning world, be rolled away, and the heavens, radiant with everlasting sunshine, shall

bend down
to
GOD!&quot;

to

embrace the

earth, and.

lift

up man

A HUSBAJSTD SOUGKHT.

Thou

lov st another, then
tis

?

but what to
e er
!

me

Is this?

nothing

nothing

can be:

But, yet, thou lov st

and

oh

I

envy those

Whose

hearts

011

hearts as faithful can repose:
the wandering thought,
wrought,&quot;

Who

never feel the void

That sighs o er visions such as mine hath

BYRON.

CHAPTEE

VII.

the departure of Miss MORE,

MAY MILLWOOD prepared all her batte
an attack, which she doubted not would prove successful, on the
ries for

heart of

EDWIN MOKLBY.

She knew that she
difficulties

would have formidable

to

sur

mount, and that her object could be gained
only through a long series of deceptions, did not stratagems, and perhaps crimes. But these

discourage her. She had faith in the resources of her strong will, and, like&quot; an astute general as she was, sat down and calmly considered and laid out

her plans.

She was well aware that MORLET S heart was already engaged that he loved Miss MORE with a deep and earnest affection, and had been some
;

months her betrothed husband

;

and that he Avould

deem

it

dishonorable in the highest degree to violate

that his love
ful girl,

any of his engagements. She was equally well aware was fully responded to by that beauti

whose matchless loveliness, purity of soul, and elevated character, could not fail to exercise a

138

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
it

powerful influence over him, which cult to overcome.

would be

diffi

Besides, she was older than MORLEY,
;

by two or

three years and, although pretty and fascinating, had nothing of the fresh and rosy beauty of Miss MORE. But, then, MORLEY did not know her age, and art could easily repair or conceal the damaging effects of years, and of the life of passion sli had led. To this end, she had her long auburn tresses cut off, and dressed herself in such a manner as

made her appear
really was.

five

or six years younger than she
girl of sixteen

Indeed, after this transformation, she
or seventeen.
S society,

looked like an artless

She constantly sought MORLEY

and

cir

cumstances greatly favored her in this. Her grandfather an aged and feeble

gentle

man

dwelt

Lynnville, in

some two or three miles distant, at the same town, and near the resi
S parents.

dence of MORLEY

Called often to attend

on her aged relative, her visits now became more frequent than ever. Without appearing to seek him, she contrived her plans so artfully that scarcely
a day passed but she met him somewhere, when he would accompany her in a walk, and return with her
to her grandfather s house.

MORLEY was pleased, The originality of her

evidently, with her society.
ideas, her intelligence,

and

a certain charm for lively manners, were not wrtihout him, and he innocently yielded to the attraction

which drew him to her presence.

MILLWOOD STRIVING FOR

A-

HUSBAND.

139

One evening he came to inquire after the health when MAY, who had seen him coming up the street, met him at the door,
of the old gentleman,

with one of her sweetest smiles, and led him into the house.

am that you thought of calling she said, after they were seated to-night,&quot; I was getting so lonely, I knew not what to do with myself. Grandfather has not been so well
&quot;How

glad I

here
&quot;

;

and grandmother, worn out with watching, has retired, and I have taken her place. I was
to-day
;

just thinking,

my
&quot;

when you came in, how I could occupy and amuse myself, through my solitary thoughts,
I see, however,

vigil.&quot;

you have the best of company and he took up a volume books,&quot; rejoined that lay in her lap, which she had been reading, and opened it. It was a copy of SHELLEY S poems, a favorite author of her s, and the numerous notes that covered the margins showed that she had been more

MORLEY

;

than a casual reader of

it.

This MORLEY observed
all

;

but he did not observe that nearly
the work.

the notes of

approval referred to the most immoral portions of

Miss MILLWOOD was a good reader and, selecting such passages as she thought would best suit her
;

present purposes, and,
&quot;

among

others, one entitled

The Philosophy of
poem,

Love&quot;

she read them with such
to the closing lines of the

effect that

when she came

latter

140

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

The clouds of heaven mix With a sweet emotion

together,

The .sunbeams kiss the earth; The moonbeams kiss the sea;
But.

what are

all

these kisses worth,
&quot;

If thou kiss not

me ?

MOIILEY through

felt
all

a strange, wild thrill of pleasure shoot his veins. He gazed on the dangerous

syren with rapturous admiration. The artful girl noted, with a smile of triumph, the point she had
gained, and determined still further to strengthen herself in the position she had acquired in his regard. She possessed, herself, conside rable poetic gifts, and,

taking from a table some recent numbers of the Oceanvitte Tdegrapli, pointed out to him several

poems
of
&quot;

of her own, which,
LELAND,&quot;

under the nom deplume

LETTIE

she had contributed to the

columns of that journal.

As she

recited

some

of

these pieces from memory, he listened with increas ing interest. Her soft tones, tremulous with emo
tion, her eyes lighted up with enthusiasm, and her face glowing with passion, all united to intoxicate his senses, and awaken a wild tumult in his heart
;

and when, at a late hour, he bade her good night, and departed, he went away, thinking that, after MARY MORE, Miss MILLWOOD was the most bewitching and lovely maiden he had ever beheld.

MAY w as
r

far

;

highly delighted with her progress thus but still she knew that MORLEY S heart was

MILLWOOD STRIVING FOR A HUSBAND.
loyal,

141

would be easy enough to ensnare his senses and win his admiration, it would
felt that,

and

while

it

be more

difficult to

gain his love.
lovers,

Some plan must

be devised to divide the
of suspicion

and

distrust in their hearts, or she

by sowing the seeds would
S
if

surely lose the game. For .some time after

MORLEY
as

departure she re

revolving some At length the air &quot;weighty problem of perplexity vanished from her face, and she smiled as if she had found a satisfactory solution of the questions which she had been meditating. Beating
in

mained

deep

thought,

in her mind.

the floor with her small, pretty foot, she said to
herself
&quot;

:

Yes, that will do. Miss MORE must be made to believe that MORLEY has deserted her and he must
;

be convinced that she, having found another lover, has forgotten him. Yes, I shall have a husband,&quot;
she continued;
&quot;and

EDWIN MORLEY

shall

be the

man

&quot;

!

not be supposed that she looked forward to such a union with that pure pleasure which a noble and virtuous soul feels who believes marriage
let it

But

to

holiest

be the close blending together of two hearts in and sweetest bonds of affection bonds per

petual for time and eternity. Of love and marriage, viewed in this light, she had, absolutely, no concep
tion.

veniencea necessary
tickle

Indeed, marriage, with her, was simply a con evil and her wayward and
the restraints

nature recoiled from

even of

142
such an

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
alliance.

dread from the possibility of being called an
maid.&quot;

But, then, she shrank with greater old
&quot;

But her designs on Mo RLE Y were prompted by another motive. She hated MARY MORE. The inno
cence and purity of that young lady were a standing reproach to herself while she was also envious of
;

her rare beauty and spotless reputation. It is natural for evil natures to dislike that which is good, and to seek the injury of those better than themselves. Thus,
it

was not merely
life,

to gain a

husband, and a settlement

in

that led her to desire to captivate MORLEY,

but to triumph over & rival whom she hated, and would be only too happy to destroy.

She had,

until recently,

been an intimate acquaint

ance of Miss MORE, and none were louder in profes sions of friendly interest than she but at the same
;

time her heart burned with jealousy, envy, and the most inveterate malice. She still continued to call on

Mrs. MORE, and inquire kindly of MARY but it was only to acquire information that she might, perhaps, employ in furthering her own schemes.
;

days after the interview with MORLEY which we have just described, Miss MILLWOOD returned to
Oceanville,
&quot;

A few

and had a conference with ORALL.
&quot;

she said, you hate MARY MORE, and desire to punish her for what you conceive to be an
MATTHEW,&quot;
insult?&quot;

EDWIN MORLEY/
ejaculated ORALL. scheme the snare you and Colonel devised did not succeed, I hear.&quot; SCRANTON
&quot;
&quot;

&quot;Your

last

&quot;No,

by

all

the

demons!&quot;

he exclaimed;

&quot;she

most mysterious manner.&quot; So I have heard but we must not let the matter drop we must separate the lovers.&quot;
escaped in the
&quot;

;

;

&quot;Well
&quot;

But

how?&quot;

Listen.

You

call frequently at the post-office iu

Lynnville, and sometimes mails, do you not?
&quot;

assist in

making up the

&quot;True.&quot;

And you know the handwriting and Miss MORE ?
&quot;
&quot;

of both

MORLEY

&quot;I

do.&quot;

&quot;

The way
The
devil
!

is

easy, then

:

you must abstract and
them.&quot;

destroy
&quot;

all letters that pass

between

But that would be
&quot;

dangerous,&quot;

replied

ORALL.
*
&quot;

Dangerous
&quot;

!

cried

MAY, with a sneer

ever stopped to calculate the danger,

who when seeking
&quot;

;

revenge
&quot;

!

Or
it

a husband ?
&quot;

ing laugh.

interrupted ORALL, with a mock Nevertheless, the plan is a good one,
&quot;

and

shall

be
&

executed.&quot;

W

Vf

7T

*

Meanwhile,

affairs in Oceanville

proceeded in their

usual quiet manner.

144
Mrs.

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

&quot;

MORE had

received a letter from MARY, giving

New

a detailed account of lier dangerous adventure in York, and the wonderful manner in which she

escaped from her perilous condition, through the
instrumentality of the Signet of King Solomon,&quot; that mysterious talisman which her father had sent
&quot;

her, as

it

were, from his grave.

deeply over the strange abduction of her daughter but the more she tried to probe the mystery the more inexplicable it became.
;

Mrs.

MOKE pondered

It was evident that her daughter had secret foes somewhere, who were persistently at work to compass her destruction. But why should that sweet child,

whose whole life had been so quiet and harmless, whose manner was so meek, and modest, and retiring, have enemies ? Her maternal heart was still agitated by sad forebodings of new dangers which might and her only comfort was, befall her beloved child
;

that

she were followed by invisible foes, who were working to her harm, she was also surrounded with
if

invisible friends,

them

to

her

necessity of

and possessed the means of calling Wishing to urge upon her the being on her guard against new dan
aid.
:

gers, she wrote her as follows

&quot;OCEANVILLE,
&quot;MY

July

12, 185-.

BELOVED CHILD:
letter,

&quot;Your

acquainting
is

me

on arriving in

New York,

before me.

with the dangers you encountered Let us thank GOD for your
will bless those

happy escape, and pray that heaven
providentially to your rescue.
is

who came

so
It

Oh

!

be careful and watchful.
to

an ungracious

task,

and seems almost monstrous

counsel you

MILLWOOD STRIVING FOR A HUSBAND.
to

145

situated as

be suspicious and distrustful of all who approach, you; but, you are, surrounded with you know not what unknown
it

enemies,

becomes necessary.
strike

My anxious heart still throbs its painful
gers,

which may

you

at

the thought that your father s arms are stretched forth to protect you. &quot;EMMA sends you a thousand kisses and a world of love; and little AGGIE desires me to ask if you daily kiss the flowers she named
for those
&quot;With

prophecy of new dan any moment; but I am consoled by spirit is watching over, and invisible

And leave the venom there she did not find, What marvel that this hag of hfrt*ed works
Eternal
evil,

latent

as;

CHAPTEE
ISS

VIII.

MOKE
new

to her

adapted herself easily position in New York,

and, devoting herself assiduously to her duties, soon gained the unre served esteem of her employers and
fellow-teachers,

and the warmest

affections of

her pupils.
qualities of

With her rare beauty, and rich mind and heart, it could scarcely

be otherwise.

During the first three or four weeks, she was the picture of happiness and contentment. If she regretted the society of the dear ones at home,
she was compensated by the thought that she was laboring for them, and anticipated the pleasure she would feel when she should transmit to her mother

her

It was a charming picture first quarter s salary. that rose before her delighted imagination Little AGGIE, fitted with pretty new frocks EMMA, with a
:

;

new hat and cloak

;

and her sweet,

patient, loving
;

mother with many little comforts hitherto denied her It and all through her labor her own earnings
!

was a delicious thought to the brave, noble Dear child she never thought of herself.
!

girl.

150

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

nervous.

After a few weeks, however, she became anxious and It was plain that some secret grief preyed

upon her heart.

When

she would retire to her room, and

not engaged with her classes, sit for hours alone.

One day, after dragging through the weary routine of her labors, she hastened to her chamber, and, throw ing herself, exhausted, into a chair, exclaimed
:

I can bear this suspense no longer. It is three weeks since I received a line from him, while I
&quot;

Oh

!

have written him four times. Oh, EDWIN! EDWIN! can it be that you have forgotten me so soon And the poor girl burst into tears.
&quot;

!

early obtained possession of her deep and purest affections and, after their engagement, looking upon him as her future husband, she gave her
est
;

MOKLEY had

virgin heart, with all its rich treasures of love, without

And now, was that poor reserve, into his keeping. heart to be cast out, and thrust away, and trampled
upon by him whom she had loved with such entire de votion, as a thing of no worth ? The thought was mad ness. She could not think him so base and yet, how could she explain his conduct ? Such heartless neglect
;

she could not reconcile with his well-known character
so noble, so truthful, so honorable,
then, there

and gentle. But,

and grim
besides,

was the palpable fact standing out dark he took no notice of her letters. And,

one of the last communications of her mother mentioned that his calls at her house were less frequent, and that he was seen often with Miss

MILLWOOD.

PERPLEXED LOVERS.
&quot;

151

Oh,

it

must be so
!

&quot;

!

she cried, in a voice of agony
!

;

&quot;

lie is false

false

!

false

Oh,

cruel, cruel

EDWIN
!

!

you have broken my heart.&quot; She no longer doubted his treachery. Alas
a painful
trial for
;

it

was

herself to

her

the poor girl but she addressed duties with undiminished alacrity,

throwing her whole soul into her employment, as if she would thus drown all unhappy remembrances.

But they would come, notwithstanding and it was plain enough that her great sorrow was rapidly con suming the very springs of life. Each day the roses fell from her cheeks, and her step became less elastic while the unnatural bril
; ;

liancy of her beautiful eyes, a short,

dry cough, and constant pain in the chest, awakened the most serious apprehensions among her friends.

And how was it with MORLEY ? He truly loved MARY though, perhaps, his love was less intense than
;

hers.

Still,

ing

affection.

he loved her with a strong, manly, trust Great, therefore, was his perplexity and

grief, when week after week passed by, and he received no answers to his letters. Had he been deceived in

Had she so soon forgotten her engagement to and cast him off for some wealthier suitor ? When him, he thought of her truth, gentleness, and virtues, and called to mind all those sweet ways in which a loving and faithful woman manifests her deep and pure affec And tion, he found it difficult to believe her false. on the other hand, how could he account for her yet,
her ?
silence ?

She had been deaf

to his

most earnest

152

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
;

and passionate appeals letter after letter had been posted, and the reply looked for with the most pain ful anxiety but no response ever came. The poor youth was miserable beyond description. Thus, by a most infernal plot, these two loving hearts, which beat so fondly and faithfully for each
;

other,
false,

were gradually estranged. Believing each other they sought to find relief from their bitter recol
!

lections in forgetting that they

Ah

could they but have

had ever loved. known the treachery that
!

was working their unhappiuess So the weeks swept along on leaden wings to the hapless lovers weeks of direst misery. All communi cation between them was cut off as effectually as if the
dark sea of death already divided them. Oh why cannot hearts that love speak to each other, although separated by thousands of miles, without the
cold,
!

intervention of written language, mails, or telegraphs ? How many a scheme of treachery and mischief would

thus be foiled in
hearts that are

its

deadly purpose

!

How many

now

often wrecked

and broken, thus

comprehending each

other, would preserve, in spite of the machinations of malice, their strong affection

and unfaltering confidence ? Miss MILLWOOD was soon made aware, by the altered manners of MORLEY, that the blow she had directed had fallen with sure effect and the joy of her evil soul was unbounded. She had hurled down and cast forth the idol which had so long been enthroned in his breast he was now desolate she
; ;
;

PERPLEXED LOVERS.
could console

153

and, beneath the light and warmth of her smiles, she doubted not the flower of love would bloom in his heart anew.

him

;

fine evening she met MORLEY, as she was walk on the sea-shore, and her heart beat wildly as she ing thought that the prize, for which she had been play

One

ing so desperate a game, was now almost within her Her eyes wore that soft, dreamy, voluptuous grasp.

look usually seen in persons of her ardent tempera ment, and the young man felt his blood tingle as
their magnetic gaze turned upon him, and she placed her small white hand in his.
&quot;

Mr. MORLEY,

it

pains

me

poorly; you must be tender voice, while her beaming eyes continued to shoot their magnetic fires into his.
ill,&quot;

you looking so she said, in a soft and
to see

Poor youth, he felt the need of sympathy and con solation, and he gazed upon the fair enchantress with looks of admiration and gratitude. The spell of the Circe was upon him. For a long time they walked the beach, in the soft twilight, en gaged in earnest conversation. MAY was eloquent, and, with poetic enthusiasm, spoke of love and sym pathy as the great needs of strong and elevated souls. She said Without them, life is nought the mightiest in tellect falters in its sublime career, and the glittering wing on which genius soars is paralyzed. Without them, all effort, all energy and exertion are inef fectual, and fruitless of results.&quot;
:
&quot;

;

154

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
felt,

MORLEY
breast,

in his soul, that all this

since the light of love

was true for, had been extinguished in his
;

he had been walking in darkness, stumbling dark paths, utterly incapable of addressing himself to any occupation and his heart softened toward
in
;

the fascinating being

who

thoughts and

feelings,

and who spoke

could thus interpret his to him with

such earnest sympathy. She continued the conversation with passionate tenderness her whole soul spoke in her eyes, face,
;

words, and seemed to tremble on her rosy lips and MAY MILLWOOD was sincere at the time, and felt ah
;
1

the passion she expressed. But her passion for MORLEY was not that high and holy sentiment which
all changes, although it was, proba the highest form of love that such a sensuous bly, nature as hers was capable of feeling. At best, it

endures through

its

was only a beautiful, but fragile flower, that exhales perfume in the glory of the morning, and dies when the shades of evening fall upon it. It was now quite dark, and MORLEY accompanied

MAY

to the house.

&quot;How

happens

it,

MAY,&quot;

said

MORLEY, who had
&quot;

taken a seat on a sofa, at her side, that you, who can picture with such truth and eloquence the passion and sentiment of love, and seem so capable of feeling

them

in all their power, are not yourself in love ?

Is

your heart, which can divine so readily the expe
riences of

other hearts, invulnerable
&quot;

to

all

soft

emotions ?

PERPLEXED LOVERS.

155

She cast on him a look
as she replied Suppose I do feel
:
&quot;

of indescribable tenderness,

all

I have attempted to de

scribe,

and the man

whom I really love is unconscious
he has
inspired?&quot;

of or indifferent to the passion
&quot;

Your supposition,&quot; he rejoined, taking her warm, velvety hand in his, is a pure impossibility. There is no man living who could be indifferent to the love
&quot;

of a
&quot;

being so lovely and gifted as you.&quot; Oh do you think so ? she hastily replied
&quot;

&quot;

!

;

sup

pose you were the
his senses
felt

man ? MORLEY started. He had been dazzled charmed
&quot;

;

had been rapt

in a delicious trance

;

he
;

his soul going forth to

embrace the strange

girl

but he had never questioned his heart, nor sought to explain the nature of his feelings toward her. The
question, therefore, startled him.

sweet face of MARY MORE
only for a
;

flitted

before

For a moment the him but it was
;

moment and he looked down

into the soft,

dreamy eyes which were upturned toward him. He leaned slightly forward, as if to embrace her, when some sudden thought seemed to restrain him.
pulses,

But the passionate girl, yielding to her ardent im threw her arms around his neck, and was press

ing her voluptuous lips to his, when she started up with a cry of alarm, and looked with a bewildered air

about the room, as if she expected to see some person. Three light knocks or taps were heard on the wall.

MORLEY looked around, amazed.
to

The sounds seemed

be in the apartment

;

but they might have been

156

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

produced by some one outside, throwing pebbles, one
after

another, against the

window-blinds.

Come

whence they would, they had a strange effect on the like one entranced girl. Ashy pale, she walked around, a will mightier than her own. At length she darted by into the hall, and quickly opened the street-door. She
strained her eyes through the thick gloom, as if she She expected to see some dreaded apparition. looked in vain no object was in sight. But, instead,
;

a voice, which made her very soul quake, came rush ing through the black night a voice, clear, solemn,

and stern as the voice
&quot;

of

doom

:

! You are again whose end rests on the abyss of path of crime, Beivare ! eternal darkness.

Beiuare,

May Millwood !

beivare

on

the

&quot;

The
all,

voice ceased, and all \vas silent as the grave save the loud beatings of her own guilty heart. Cooling her fevered brow for a few secorfds in the

night air, she silently closed the door, and returned to the room. Recollecting herself, and fearful that MOKLEY would think her conduct strange, she threw
herself into a chair, and, pressing her

head between

her hands, she exclaimed
&quot;Oh!

:

which came upon me so suddenly, has almost crazed me. I must have taken cold this evening, when standing on the beach,
this terrible head-ache,

in the

damp sea MORLEY soon

atmosphere.&quot;

after departed,

musing on that wild
of

and beautiful being, and the strange revelation
her love.

THE TEMPTRESS.

Oh!
In

too convincing

dangerously dear
!

woman s

eye, the unanswerable tear

That weapon of her weakness she can wield To save, subdue at once her spur and shield.
Avoid
it

Virtue ebbs and

Wisdom

errs,
!

Too fondly gazing on
&quot;lost

that grief of hers
fly?

a world, and bade a hero What The timid tear in Cleopatra s
eye.&quot;

BYRON.

CHAPTEK

IX.

EVEEAL months had now rolled away.
The
the

summer had faded, and golden days of autumn had come,
glory of
their

trailing

gorgeous drapery of

many-colored leaves and rose-tinted clouds over hill and valley, mountain and plain. Au

tumn
magnificence!

beautiful, gorgeous,

shadowy autumn

!

how grandly eloquent art thou in thy somber
and deep-toned, mysterious voices, and fall around us, in softest cadence, like echoes from the Everlasting Shore, bearing the soul away from all thought of self or individual interests, to the starry land of reverie that region so melan
which
rise

choly,

and yet so sweet
it

!

one who

safely be said that there is 710 insensible to the solemn, heartwholly awakening influences peculiar to this season of the

We believe
is

may

year. Its grand and reflective countenance has an indefinable charm for every earnest and thoughtful
soul.

It arouses the torpid

memory, and

fails

not to

bring up from the tomb

of the past the events,

experiences and persons which have played their parts in the solemn history of our ambitions, and

160 doubts
all forth,
its

810 NET

OP KING SOLOMON.

our hopes and our

It brings them griefs. and the phantom-procession moves on in

brightness or sadness, with all the distinctness of As we walk life, through the chambers of the mind.
in the dim-lighted

decaying leaves,
like

wood, fragrant with the odors of which cover the paths we tread,

a soft carpet, while their brothers, in red and brown, fluttering the brief remnant of their life on
the parent stock, await the blast that shall hurl them also to the earth we find ourselves deeply moved,

days that are gone. heart and swimming Again we see, with a swelling eyes, the delusive hopes which once shone so fairly

and turn

to a retrospection of the

upon us, but now darkened forever and hear again the thrilling voice of a love which, perchance long, long ago came to visit our hearts, like the smile of
;

heaven, but of which nothing sad, sad memory.

now remains but
fallen

its

EDWIN MORLEY must have
thought, and
felt

on

this train of

powerfully the influence we have described, as he walked, on one of the finest after noons that ever closed an autumnal day, in the grand
old

wood

that skirted the town of Oceanville.

The

pensive expression of his noble countenance

showed

that his thoughts were busy with the past, while the deep shade that rested upon it bore witness to inward

unhappiness.

Every rock and

tree

every flower,

which

dared to grace the hill-side every nook and glen all reminded him of the days of trust and hope, and sweet-blossoming love and of her, whom
still
;

THE TEMPTRESS-.

161

he now believed false, and whose image, once so deeply loved, he was striving to banish forever from
his heart.

Proceeding along the winding paths, he at length gained the top of a hill, and, after gazing around for
a

moment on

before him, sat
of meditation.

the fair prospect which spread out down upon a rock, and fell into a fit

Love, and especially its disappointments, are great do not really live quickeners of the intellect.
&quot;We

until love

opens to us the great portals of life, and through its power we begin to reflect on its myste
rious questions. Love arouses every energy, and when one loves happily, to him the worlds seem to roll in immortal splendors. All things glow

with a radiance

and beauty, more than earthly, and overflow with songs of more than human
melody.

But the heart that has been disappointed
love dives
still

in its
;

deeper in

life s

dread mysteries

it

becomes at once a philosopher and a poet. Thus it was with MOKLEY. After musing a few moments, he took from his pocket a small portfolio,

upon his knees before him, wrote with a pencil. Sorrow had raised him to the region of poetry, and his heart w ailed out its grief in song
and, laying
it
r
:
&quot;

AGAIN

I tread these paths, find climb this hill,

I walked the gayest of the gay; But now, fast-rushing tears my eyes do fill,

closed his portfolio, &quot;that I cannot drive entirely from my heart the image of that false and fickle

She has forgotten me treats me with silent scorn and contempt and yet my thoughts turn con I stantly to her who has so basely deceived me
girl ?
;

;

;

love her

still.&quot;

ceeded

&quot;

:

for love dies

Love when
!

After musing a little while, he pro no I do not love Miss MORE now
it is

;

when
it

its

object

is

responded to with scorn, or unworthy. I love, it is true but
;

not Miss MORE, either as she was or is, but rather the image of what I imagined her to be. It
is
,

THE TEMPTRESS.

163

is that which I regret with so much sorrow, and my utter desolation of soul is occasioned by the loss of

that:

is

MORLEY S philosophy was doubtless correct for it not in the power of human nature to love baseness, treachery, or deceit. It may, indeed, waste its affec
;

tions

on objects that are base and deceitful but
;

it is

because the fancy paints them otherwise. The young man s thought now turned to Miss MILL

WOOD.
that

He

young

ence upon

strove to analyze his feelings in regard to He felt that she had great influ lady. him, and he was drawn to her, notwith

in her presence, and her were fixed upon him, he was large magnetic eyes

standing himself.

When

Every nerve thrilled with a delicious tremor, and in the charm which she threw around him, he lost the memory of Miss MORE, its pains, and all the world beside. Did he love her; or were his senses simply intoxicated by her voluptuous charms ? He had asked himself that question a thousand
spell-bound.
times.
&quot;When

when away from

with her, he thought he did; yet, her, he felt a coldness around his
for.

heart which he could not account
alternately attracted

He was

and

repelled.

There was some

thing about that strangely fascinating creature which alarmed while it lured him. She seemed to be a

mystery which he could not fathom.

him with a
;

That she loved strange, passionate energy he felt to be true but there was in him a conscious shrinking from that love, even when its spell was the most

164

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
All this

powerfully upon him.
plained.

can be easily ex
into a soft

She had plunged his senses

inebriation, but failed to inspire

that sweet trust

and confidence which are the necessary foundation
of lo\r e.

There were other things, too, which exercised his There were passages in Miss MILL conjectures.

WOOD S life that had been kept closely vailed. Was she a pure, high-minded, truthful girl ? The event
which had so suddenly interrupted their interview some weeks before, and which had agitated her so fearfully, was often the subject of his thoughts. Was it connected with some secret in her history, which
she did not desire to have revealed ?
Besides, two years she had spent away from home, part of the time at school, and the residue on the

pretence of literary employment in Boston and New York. Scandal had been busy with her alleged pro
ceedings during this period. She also was in the constant receipt of letters of a mysterious charac some even had been forwarded to her through ter

him.

Such questionings and circumstances occupied his mind a long time that afternoon. But his specula
tions failed to throw a solitary ray of light
subject.
It

on that
in

was dark as

ever.

There she stood
beautiful,

his

mind

an inexplicable mystery

gleam

ing as a rainbow, and rosy as the face of early sum mer but he could not answer to himself whether
;

she were angel or

devil.

Yet he followed as she

THE TEMPTRESS.
willed,
tlirill

165

and felt every sense and nerve in his body whenever he came within the reach of her
horizon, and

seductive smiles.

The sun was now near the
rose to descend to the town.

MOBLEY

But, as he turned his

head, he saw several ladies coming toward him, and decided to stop till they had passed by. As they came up opposite to him, he saw that Miss MILL
Directly she recognized him, she stepped forward, and spoke to him, while the rest of the party passed down the hill to the
of the party.
village.

WOOD was one

ings of

They saw nothing improper in the proceed Miss MILLWOOD, as it was known that the engagement between MORLEY and MARY MORE had

been broken up, and rumor alledged that he and MILLWOOD were engaged lovers.

MILL WOOD looked around silently for some moments with a troubled countenance. Ah the spot had remem brances for her also and sometimes, whether she would or not, she was compelled to come even here to think. She, too, was familiar with these paths, and had often walked there with one whom she thought, at the time, she loved with a deeper and
After a few common-place remarks, Miss
!

;

wilder passion than that she

now

entertained for
in his

MORLEY, and who, she knew, had borne her

heart as the most sacred thing on earth, so long as he believed her good and faithful. Well did she

know,

too, of that terrible

agony which brought him
vile-

to the brink of insanity

when he discovered her

166
ness,

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

and was compelled, by his manhood, to cast her, any cost, forth from his bosom. Even now she remembered all this, and still more distinctly her last interview with Captain THORNBURY on that very spot, and seemed to hear again his dreadful words of doom Unfit for a wife, you must tread the path of
at
&quot;

:

&quot;

life

alone

!

A

slight palor spread over

her face as

these memories swept through her mind ; but with a recklessness peculiar to such thoughtless natures, she quickly thrust them away, and, fixing her pas
sionate glances on MORLEY, rushed

madly toward
again,

her destiny.

MORLEY
and drank
of her eyes

felt

the old

charm come over him

in
;

with rapture the dark, subduing light but his love struggled with grave doubts.
:

Taking her hand in his, he said, kindly, but solemnly MAY, pardon me but I cannot help thinking, some
&quot;

;

you are a little too mysterious I cannot comprehend you.&quot; Now, MAY knew that it would not be safe to enter on a discussion of the subject she saw was then in MORLEY S thoughts and still less so to allow herself
times, that
;
;

to

be subjected to a

fire of cross-questions. art, therefore,

With

true

woman s

she met the

implied question with an affectation of grief that any one could possibly entertain the least suspicion

regarding her. She made no reply to his remark, but threw herself in his arms, and burst into tears,
exclaiming
&quot;

:

Oh MORLEY,
!

dear MORLEY,

how can you speak

THE TEMPTRESS.
so
?

167

You know

I love

the strength of
cruel!&quot;

my

nay, worship you, with all ardent nature. Oh, you are too

And

the tears flowed

down her

beautiful

face, soft, pleading, reproachful glance. The young man could not resist She tears, and drew the temptress to his breast. returned his embrace with passionate energy, crying Oh, my beloved, you do love me, I know you do
:
&quot;

which looked up into his with a

for see,
other!&quot;

how

wildly our hearts

now beat

against each

MORLEY forgot his doubts, MARY MORE and all. The little storm of tears having passed away, MAY
continued
&quot;

:

I sometimes think, EDWIN, that
;

my

love is too

and yet no other love can possibly satisfy my heart, which claims just as absorbing a love in return. I desire to be loved with perfect abandonment such as a poet describes when, in burning words, he pours forth the ardent expres
absorbing, too craving
;

sions of his passion into the ears of his heart s idol
&quot;

&quot;

:

Come, dearest maiden,

fill

for me,

A goblet of the orient wine; Now Luna s yellow tresses twine
Their gold amid the brown of thine
I drink,

heaven, I swear, that sky and air Are drunken with thy charms.
soul
is

My

One

kiss,

trembling on my breath; and thou may st taste
it

it

!

Soft, dearest, soft

murmureth
it.

Take not thy
Taste
all,

lips away, it saith,

but do not waste

These words, and the tone of impassioned earnest ness with which they were uttered, sent the blood
leaping and boiling through MORLEY S veins, and he strained the enchantress to his breast, exclaiming
:

thine, my love shall even surpass that which you say your heart yearns for but, oh, MAY, if you should deceive me She did not allow
&quot;

I

am

and

;

.&quot;

him
that,

to finish the sentence

;

for, hastily

placing her

warm

him one of those kisses lips with most men, weigh more than a thousand
on
his, she gave

arguments.

MOELEY struggled no more, but yielded, in a wild delirium of pleasure, to the current of passion which
was sweeping him along. He was undoubtedly weak; but let those who think him unusually so remember their own young days of enthusiasm, and that MORLEY was ardent, inexperienced, and only
twenty-two.
Still

further

to

attach the

young man

to

her,

MAY

delicately addressed his interest and ambition. Without any self-laudation or apparent egotism, she
artfully contrived to

make her

lover think that he

THE TEMPTRESS.

1G9

ought to be proud of a wife who possessed, with un questioned beauty, so many rare gifts one who had,

by superior
panions.

intellectual

endowments and

literary

attainments, raised herself so far above her

com
old

made him understand grandfather died she would come
She
also

that

when her

into possession of

several thousand dollars,

not to be despised by any young man. think that EDWIN MORLEY was sordid

which was a consideration Now do not
r
,

far

from

it

;

he would have thought
to allow

it

dishonorable in the extreme

him
to

in the affairs of love

any such motive to weigh a feather with and marriage. And had

Miss MILLWOOD directly offered any such inducements him he would have felt hurt, if not insulted. The
girl

cunning

knew

thoughts to suggest
devil could even

this, and adroitly led his own what she desired. The beautiful

make her
!

victim think whatever

she wished.

Oh, EDWIN MORLEY
serpent.

you, too, are in the coils of a
!

Heaven help you The temptress had triumphed, and when they separated that night, she was the betrothed bride of EDWIN MORLEY.

MILLWOOD S

CHILD.

Now

thy young heart, like a bird,
its

Warbles in

summer

nest;

No evil thought, no unkind word, No chilling autumn winds have stirred
The beauty
of thy
rest.&quot;

CHAPTEE

X.

T was the month of May rosy, smiling, fragrant May and the soft south wind,
sweeping over the blooming peach or chards of New Jersey, scattered their sweet odors, like incense from a million
censers, over the brilliant

and joyous

city of

New
genial mood.

York.

The
parks,

great metropolis
its

of the

United States was in

gayest and most
fresh

The

now

and

green,

invited pedestrians to their clean, shady walks ; the broad branching trees resounded with the wild melo
dies of a thousand birds,

which chanted their

hymn

of gratitude to the advancing spring, while the clear, silvery laugh of happy childhood responded below.

Costly equipages, with livened drivers and footmen, dashed along Broadway while the sidewalks of that
;

magnificent street were swept by the trailing dresses The of the fashionable, the beautiful, the gay. windows of the palaces of the rich were thrown open
to

welcome the balmy atmosphere which undulated around them, and loud in their glittering saloons

were heard the voices of the children of fortune,
prosperity and joy.

But not

for these alone did the

174
roses,

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

and lilacs, and blooming orchards scent the breezes which fanned them not for these alone came
;

the glad, warm light of that glorious afternoon. Into the desolate garret of penury, the obscure court,

down

where suffering virtue hides her weeping face into the haunts of crime and dens of infamy

ay,
stole

the sweet, reviving breath, and golden sunshine of spring, emblems of that infinite charity which sur rounds and cares for all.
clock, on this afternoon, a gentleman issued from the St. Nicholas Hotel, and paused for some time on the steps. His mild blue eye looked

About four o

with interest on the tide of

human beings now

rolling

by, and as he noted the contrasts of wealth and poverty, luxury and want, the shadow of sorrow

upon
shade.

his

benevolent

features

assumed a darker

After a few minutes of apparent meditation, he signaled a coach, and entering, was driven rapidly

up Broadway

to the

Fourth avenue.

Arriving at

Twenty-second street, he alighted, turned down to the right, and entered Irving place. Noting the numbers, as he moved along, he at length stopped before the door of an elegant residence, and rang.

was soon answered by a maid-servant, who evidently knew who he was for, without ceremony, she admitted him, and, showing him to a drawingcall
;

The

room, retired to

summon

her mistress.

The apartment into which the gentleman had been ushered connected with another by folding-doors,
which were thrown open.

Both rooms were furnished

MAY MILLWOOD

S CHILD.

175

delicate

with luxury and taste, and were pervaded with a perfume of flowers the tables and what
;

nots were covered with books of the most select
character, in English, French, German, and Italian, and the walls were graced with choice paintings

and exquisite engravings all bearing witness to the refined sentiments and thorough culture of the lady who presided as mistress of the mansion;
while the papers and manuscripts, carelessly thrown around, plainly evinced her literary proclivities and
habits.

The visitor was not left long to make observations on what he saw for soon a light step was heard in the hall, and the lady of the house entered.
;
&quot;

My

dear Mrs.

DE GROVE

&quot;

&quot;

!

My very, very dear
The gentleman down

exclaimed the lady and the gentleman, at the same time, as they rushed into each other s arms,
friend
!&quot;

and embraced with friendly

fervor.

took both the lady s hands in his, and, looking into her deep and earnest eyes, said
:
&quot;

Oh you know
!

not,

my

sweet friend,

how much

pleasure I feel on being blessed with a privilege of seeing your fair friendly face once more.&quot;
&quot;

And

I,&quot;

responded Mrs.

&quot;

I assure you,
yours.&quot;

my
And

dear

sir,

DE GROVE, with feeling, my pleasure is not less
&quot;

than

then added

:

I expected

you

soon, but was not looking for you
&quot;

to-day.&quot;

My business,&quot; he rejoined,
earlier

in

New York much
account for this

required my presence than I anticipated, which
&quot;

will

surprise.&quot;

176
&quot;

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
said the lady,
;

&quot;All

smiling,

&quot;some

work

of

some mission of kindness and charity, as usual I suppose. Oh my dear friend, you benevolence,
!

do too much
of the world,

are too sympathetic

and the miseries
strive to alleviate,

which you constantly
life

are wearing your

away.

Do you

not feel dis

when, your labors, the wail of wretchedness still swells through the skies as loud and despairing as ever?&quot;
after all
&quot;Discouraged

couraged, at times,

turned

&quot;

;

but I never despair

I certainly am, at times,&quot; he re and continue to work
;

with courage, and hope, and

faith.

You know my
&quot;

And, with a sign we will conquer. smile, he raised the Templar s Cross (which hopeful he always bore about his person) to his lips, and
motto

By this

kissed

it

devoutly.

Mrs.

DE GROVE was

a lady not far from thirty-five,

possessing one of those fine, sensitive, high-toned, generous, and enthusiastic natures, of which martyrs
are

made.

Her form was
formed
;

exquisitely

small and slight, but her complexion fair while her
;

sweet emotions, was a Her talents were of a vision of beauty, truly angelic. order she possessed the soul of a poet, with high
face, radiant
all
;

with love, and

the heart of a philanthropist, and seemed to divine, by a rare sympathy, the wants and sufferings of

had expressed them. She was objects of charity, and devising new means for the more efficient amelioration of the sorrows of the poor and unfortunate. She had been
others, before they

ever seeking

new

MAY MILLWOOD
for years acquainted with

S CHILD.

177

her

visitor,

and the friend

two had grown stronger, and stronger, and more intimate, as time passed on. She had listened with the deepest interest and sympathy to
ship of the

She entered into all his plans with eagerness, and often aided him by her counsel, and still more the tenderness of her generous soul. After a pause, during which her countenance became
serious, she said
&quot;

the story of his life ments, and his hopes.

his

sorrows, his disappoint

:

Have you no news, my
little

friend

nothing to
?&quot;

tell

of

the mother of
&quot;Alas!

MARY Miss MILLWOOD
lost.

dear

madam,&quot;

he returned, sadly,

&quot;that

wretched
her

girl is lost

under the influence of fear

I had strong hopes that, for no other would reach

she might be restrained in her career of vice, and reform. Sometimes I thought of placing her in

your care, hoping that, surrounded with so much love and virtue, she would catch the contagion of good ness, and rise to a nobler life. But all that is passed.

She
&quot;

is lost.

Her

destiny is about to be accomplished.

But,&quot; he added, quickly, &quot;where is the child?&quot; She is out now with the nurse,&quot; replied Mrs.

DE

GROVE,

&quot;

but

will return soon.

She

is

a rare infant

indeed, the most beautiful child-flower I ever saw.

Who would have

thought that the puny, sickly infant you brought here, nearly two years ago, in a dying condition, could ever have survived, to become the
beautiful witch that she is
&quot;

?

While they were speaking, the

fairy herself ran

178
into

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
the room, and, going up to Mrs. DE GKOVE, she called mamma, lifted up her little face for
&quot;

whom

a kiss. The lady took her in her arms, and pressed her to her heart, saying At least here you shall a mother.&quot; have
:

The gentleman looked with emotion upon the beau
child and, taking her into his lap, he gently stroked her fair little head, and its long, curly, dark
tiful
;

hair.

He
if

did not kiss her.
if

down

his head, as

to

Once or twice he bent do so, but suddenly drew it

back, as

some painful memory restrained him. That child was the daughter of MAY MILLWOOD and MATTHEW OBALL. In order to understand this scene, the reader must

go back with us about two years. Within a darkened chamber in a boarding-house on Hanover street, Boston, a young lady is lying on

She is sobbing violently, ill, but convalescent. and her pale face wears an expression of mingled grief, remorse, and fear. At the foot of the bed sits a nurse, holding in her lap an infant, apparently dying, over w hich bends a
a bed
r

gentleman with anxious, care-worn look, observing with painful emotion the agony of the little sufferer, After a few more for which he can devise no relief.
struggles, afflicting to behold, the

poor child sunk

away into the peace of death. Contemplating for a few moments the little form before him, the gentle

man

and advanced to the side of the bed arousing the lady from a stupor into which she had
rose,

;

MAY MILLWOOD
fallen, lie

S CHILD.-

.

179

informed her. as gently as he could, of the death of her child. She started up with a wild

scream
&quot;

:

her

Oh niy baby, my to me she is not
!

dear

little

MARY
dead.&quot;

!

Oh

!

bring

;

cannot be

child, and placed its form in the mother s arms. She strained drooping it to her breast then, holding it out in her hands,
;

The gentleman took the

she gazed some minutes upon its pale features, with a wild, wistful stare, when, turning to the gentleman
with a look of deepest despair, she exclaimed
&quot;

:

Baby
the

is

dead

!

baby

is

dead

&quot;

!

and

fell

back on

bed

in a swoon.

180

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
carefully disengaged the child from
it

The gentleman
attentively.

her arms, and laying

upon the bed, examined

it

He

started on seeing a faint, roseate

tinge stealing upon its cheek, and, eagerly tearing open its dress at the breast, placed his fingers softly

on

its

heart.

After an observation of a few seconds^
:

he said to himself
&quot;

so strongly resem bling death, only indicates the crisis of the disease. Alas far better would it have been, for its own sake,
lives
;

The poor thing
!

this

fit,

had

it

now

fled

of angels.

from this world of grief to the land And, with such a mother, what a fate it
&quot;

must encounter

!

After standing a little while, as if considering, he ordered the nurse to call Mrs. PAINE, the landlady. She soon appeared. He held a brief consultation
apart, in a low tone,
left

when she took
out,

the child, and

*

the room.

The gentleman then went
undertaker.

A

tiny rose-wood

coffin

and summoned an was procured,
&quot;

bearing a silver plate, with the inscription, Mary Ludloiv, daughter of May Milhcood, aged two months&quot;

In due time, this

coffin

was placed

in a box,

and

Boston

deposited but
;

in

the
little

public

MARY was
;

burying-ground not in the coffin.

at

East

In the meanwhile, the poor child was given in charge
to a skillful nurse

and when

it

was

finally

recovered

was taken
adopted

New York by the gentleman, and Mrs. DE GROVE, from whom it received by
to
s care,

more than a mother

and

all

of a

mother

s love.

MAY MILLWOOD

S CHILD.

181

MAY MILLWOOD never saw her child again. Little MARY was now two years old, and Mrs. DE
GROVE was
justly
r

proud of her lovely charge.

That
;

admirable w oman never tired in any good work and on hearing from her friend the melancholy story of

Miss MILLWOOD had resolved to make an effort to save the misguided girl, and she was deeply pained

when informed that
one had

it

was too

late

that the wretched

passed the line of crime whence there can

be no return.
The* two friends conversed for some time, consider

ing plans for the future welfare of their

common

charge, when the gentleman, after giving the little one some pretty toys, and his friend a parting em
brace, departed.

From
the

Irving place he retraced his steps to the

Fourth avenue, crossed Union Park, and entered
Seminary.
well said that
&quot;

Some one has
cure for love
of its
correct.
is
object.&quot;

the most certain

the knowledge of the unworthiness

MARY MORE found
;

this postulate

After

that

MORLEY was

some months, she became convinced fickle and weak and, summoning

her pride to her aid, cast forth his image from her It is true she expe heart, as she thought, forever. rienced a painful sense of loss a desolation of soul,

which time alone could remove.
herself,

Highly religious and possessing the entire affection and confi dence of her friends, she was tranquil, if not happy. And when she was made acquainted with MORLEY S

182

SIGNET OF KIXG SOLOMON.

assiduous attentions to Miss MILLWOOD, it gave her no pain, nor caused her any regrets, although she marveled much at his choice for, although she had freely associated with that young lady, she had always
;

why a repugnance to her. Her and sensitive soul unconsciously shrank from pure her, as from something polluted and base. Recovering thus her tranquillity, Miss MORE soon
felt

she knew not

began

to improve in health, and, although at this time not wholly restored, she was so much better that her friends no longer entertained any serious

apprehensions concerning her. The labors of the day being over, and the dinnerhour passed, she had gone to her room. Seated at
a table, she leaned her lovely heai upon her hands in a thoughtful attitude. Presently, she took up an

Herbarium, laid it open before her, and silently con templated one of the pages. This page was evidently most dear to her, and had daily been the object of her
the top of it appeared a full-blown rose, with the words my mother written underneath. On the right, a little below, was a mossaffectionate inspection.
&quot;

On

rose, with the

words

&quot;

my

sister

Emma; and opposite
&quot;

this a rose-bud,

marked

&quot;

sister

Aggie&quot;

while below
&quot;

was placed a sweet-william, with the name of Edwin The first three she kissed with the deepest Morley&quot; and after regarding the other for some time, affection; with a sad smile, she slowly and carefully removed
it,

and, after a

moment s

reflection, cast it out of the

window, together with the memory of her

love.

MAY MILLWOOD

S CHILD.

183

Then, taking an eraser, she proceeded to obliterate the name of EDWIN MORLEY from the page, as she

had already endeavored
heart.

to erase his

image from her

She was engaged in this occupation when a servant came to announce that a gentleman was waiting
below, desiring to speak with her. she inquired. Did he give his name
&quot;

?&quot;

&quot;No;

he only said he was a friend of your

family,&quot;

replied the servant.

Her

past experiences, and the frequent warnings

of her mother,

regard to visitors,
at

had made MARY prudent and wary in and she had steadily refused to be

any persons she did not know. She therefore hesitated a few moments, as if considering whether it would be quite safe to deviate from this
to
line of policy in the present instance.

home

Her

hesitation

was not

long, however; for, feeling there could be no danger with her friends all around, and within call, she followed the maid down the stairs, and entered

the parlor.

her surprise and joy when she saw that her visitor was her mysterious protector the gentle

What was

man

in black.

He

took her

lily

hands in

his,

and

looked long and thoughtfully into her beautiful face, on which the roses of health had again begun to bloom. The scrutiny seemed to be satisfactory; for,
leading her to a sofa, and placing her beside him, he said, while a happy smile played upon his lips:
&quot;How

delighted I am, Miss MORE, to see that

184

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

neither your arduous labors, nor any other cause, has either materially affected your health or disturbed

the tranquillity of your the words
&quot;

heart.&quot;

The marked emphasis with which he pronounced
other
cause&quot;

told

MABY, plainly enough,

who seemed to know everything concerning herself, also knew of her early love for
that the stranger,

MORLEY, and the position in which they then stood to each other, and the roses on her cheeks glowed
with a redder tinge.
&quot;Pray,
&quot;

sir,&quot;

said the

young

lady, after a short si

lence,

if it

be not impertinent in

me

to ask, will

you

inform

you, a stranger, whom I have never seen but three times in my life, have become so

me how

hopes and disappointments; even the sufferings and dangers which await me in the future ? and also why is it
familiar with all

my

history,

my

trials,

you take so kindly an interest in my welfare a person unknown to you, and having no claims what ever to your protection? I do not even know your name; and yet, with a brother s love and care, you have watched over me, and your strong arm hath
that

shielded

me from

harm.&quot;

The stranger smiled; he saw that she desired to know his name, but was restrained from asking by
an excessive delicacy, and replied:
&quot;

For the

present, I

am

nameless; but your father

was

my
my

friend,

entitled to

my

and the daughter of my friend is protection and care; let this suffice
I cannot, indeed, promise to

you,

dear child.

MAY MILLWOOD

S

CHILD.

185
!

shield 3r on from your share of sorrow; for, alas where is the heart but has its griefs where the soul but has
its

dark

trials ?

Yet I think I can assure you that

bright days

of happiness are in store for

you

days

of restored confidence,

mutual trust and

love.&quot;

started at these strange words, and threw a penetrating glance upon the stranger, as if seeking

MARY

the meaning of
&quot;

his language, at

the same, time

replying, earnestly:

But, sir, confidence can never be restored which has been destroyed by falsehood and baseness, nor can
love revive,whose object is discovered to be
&quot;True,

I received a letter from mother yesterday, she answered; and I intend to return home in a few
dear, dear mother and sisters how I shall be to see them again rejoiced I am glad to hear that you are to go home so soon.

days.
&quot;

Oh my
!

!&quot;

Your mother yearns

to

embrace you again, and your

presence with your friends will not only subserve their happiness, but also promote your own in more

ways than

one,

You know EDWIN MORLEY,

I

think.&quot;

186

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

Miss
&quot;

MORE gave

a slight start; but, controlling

herself, responded, with a tone of perfect indifference: Oh, yes: I am well acquainted with that young

gentleman; he
&quot;

is,

I believe, about to be
so,&quot;

married.&quot;

in

You may have heard replied the gentleman but EDWIN MORLEY will never marry Miss black;
&quot;

gain young MORLEY, but she will But EDWIN I mean Mr. MORLEY loves her very deeply, I have been told,&quot; answered Miss MORE, with
fail.&quot;

a sigh.
&quot;Ah!

my

dear child, you are too young and
&quot;

innocent to comprehend that most mysterious of all MAY mysteries, the heart of man,&quot; he continued
:

MILLWOOD has no place

in the inner sanctuary of

MORLEY S

heart

;

he

is

fascinated, but does not love

That she has gained his ear, and for a time her. enslaved his senses by some wicked means, is no
will

doubt true but time will unravel her plots. She never be the wife of MORLEY.&quot; The stranger said no more on the subject which
;
;
:

interested Miss

MORE so deeply and after a short time he rose to depart, saying Miss MORE, I return to Massachusetts to-morrow,
&quot;

MAY MILLWOOD

S

CHILD.

187

and

be happy to bear any message you may desire to forward to your friends, and will call to
shall

receive your commands before I leave the city.&quot; After his departure, MARY sat for a long time in a

stupor of astonishment.
vainly sought to solve.

Her

visitor

mystery, and his words were

all

was himself a enigmas, which she
like

He

appeared to her

a person whose earnest and truthful heart had at some time received a severe shock, and his habitual

melancholy spoke of wounds that were not yet wholly healed over. She was convinced, however, that in all his acts which concerned her, or her
interests,

he was moved by a strong and untiring
;

friendship for her family
of

but his perfect knowledge

MOKLEY and Miss MILLWOOD, and their proceed The manner in which he spoke ings, puzzled her.
young lady proved that his acquaintance with her must have been somewhat intimate for how else would he have penetrated so deeply into her dark spirit, and made himself so familiar with her designs ? All his language was so formed as to suggest a thousand vague and indefinite thoughts and thus the poor girl remained, floating about in a
of
; ;

that

sea of wild conjectures, until the seminary bell

sum

moned her

to tea.

On

leaving Miss MOKE, the gentleman in black

proceeded
entered the
&quot;

down Broadway
office of

to

Wall

street,

and

a Life Insurance

Company.
of a child, for

Mr.

BENTON,&quot;

he

said, addressing the Actuary,

&quot;

I wish to take out a policy

on the

life

188

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

You

the benefit of a family in which I am much interested. will find the particulars in this paper and he
;&quot;
&quot;

laid the application, with specifications, upon the table. I do this,&quot; he continued, &quot;believing it to be

the best investment I can make, for them

;

for,

should

the child happily live, still, after a course of years, the policy would have a certain value, and could be

advantageously disposed of for money. I desire to have the papers prepared as soon as convenient, and Irving deposited with Mrs. DE GROVE, at No.

The premium will be paid at the Bank of Commerce whenever you caU for The Actuary, after attentively examining the appli
Place.
it.&quot;
&quot;

cation, replied,

I will attend to the matter without

delay.

Our

physician, Dr. MEEKS, shall call and
evening.&quot;

see the child this
&quot;

I rely on your promptitude,&quot; added the gentleman in black, and he passed from the office into the street.

Very well

;

FLOWER-GATHERERS.

&quot;Oh!

innr thou beloved, come home! the hi
tone,

Of many a greeting

The time

of hearth-light

and

of song,

Returns, and thou art

gone.&quot;

MRS. HEM.VNS.

CHAPTEE
T was
woods
filled

XI.

early June,

and the

hills

and

of Oceanville

were covered and

with beauty, and fragrance, and song. The sweet wild flowers, which, in boundless profusion and variety, lifted

up

their bright faces

on every hand, spoke

soothingly and lovingly to the heart, and seemed to invite all to Nature s great ban

quet of beauty and joy. Oh season of bright hopes, soft emotions, tender confidences, and holy love How the heart warms under thy balmy breath, and
! !

the soul enlarges under thy expanding smiles Not only upon the rocks and hill- sides does thy soft
!

influence cause the flowers to bloom, but also in

man s

sorrowful breast

it

plants

anew the

fair rose of

expectation and of faith. All things the sea, the earth, and the heavens appear to dissolve in love. Even Nature s heart throbs with sacred joy, as if in

The earth stands before us in transfigured glory with her robe of flowers, smiling, joyful and gay and leaves, and rosy light. From the green sunny where hills, and perfumed woods, and retired glens the violets and Erythroniums nestle in their fairy

home
fields

a thousand voices steal upon our ears, soft and sweet as angel s whispers, inviting us to the

and woods,

to

a

communion with Nature

s

wondrous beauty, and with him of

whom

all

of

summer s luxuriant glory is a dim reflection. Toward the close of one fair afternoon, a company
young people, called out by the attraction of the season, might have been seen on the brow of the hill, where we have twice before had occasion to conduct the reader. They had been gathering flowers for some time in the groves, and were now seated around upon the rocks, assorting and ar
of

ranging them in bouquets, according to their various fancies and tastes. They were a glad and merry
group, and formed altogether a lovely picture, as they sat there in the soft evening sunshine, twining
their wreaths
&quot;

and binding up
I wish

their nosegays.
;

MAKY MORE was here she Oh how Shan t always enjoyed these excursions so much we be glad, girls, when she returns to us again ?
!

!

&quot;

and elegantly-formed girl, with a sweet radiant with goodness, and a pair of bright, oval face,
said a tall

blue eyes,
&quot;

whom we shall call LUCIE ELMORE. and That we shall,&quot; replied Miss GLADSTONE won t we have a joyful time when she does come ?
&quot;

;

&quot;

THE FLOWER-GATHERERS.

193

MARY had always been

a favorite with her

com

panions, and was ever the subject of affectionate conversation and remembrance when they were
together.
&quot;

By

the way,

LUCIE,&quot;

continued Miss GLADSTONE,

wonder how MOHLEY will appear when he meets her? Who would have thought that he could have
&quot;

engagement, and refused to write to MORLEY.&quot; it is so reported,&quot; rejoined Miss GLAD
but,
still,

STONE
a

;

something
I

strange in the affair.

I cannot help thinking there is He thinks she found
;

new love, and cast him off contemptuously but know better. MARY is honorable and generous, incapable of a mean act and had she found that she had mistaken the nature of her sentiments toward her lover, she would frankly have told him so.
;

No,

girls

;

there

is

mystery about

this.&quot;

&quot;Ah!

here conies

EMMA

MORE,&quot;

exclaimed LUCIE,

as the lovely sister of our heroine stepped into the circle. didn t you join us in our excursion
&quot;

Why

when we
time?&quot;
&quot;

first

came out

;

you would -have had a nice
but just as I was ready to

I intended to do so

;

start,

a gentleman brought us a letter from sister
n

194

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

MAKY,

whom

lie

saw

in

New York

yesterday, and I

stopped to read it, and make inquiries about lier. Only think,&quot; she added, with animation her counte

nance beaming with joyful expectation &quot;only five days more, and she will be here she will arrive on
;

Saturday.&quot;
&quot;

Good

&quot;

!

good

!

cried the whole group at once,
it

with genuine satisfaction. &quot;Dear MARY, an age since she went away.&quot;
&quot;

seems
&quot;

But, tell us, EMMA,&quot; said Miss GLADSTONE, was the gentleman that brought the good news ?
one, I feel deeply grateful to
&quot;Why,&quot;

who
For

him

for his

tidings.&quot;

responded EMMA; &quot;he was that strange gentleman, of whose kind and noble deeds we have heard so much during the past year, and about whom

we know
&quot;

so
!

litile.&quot;
&quot;

Indeed

said Miss
;

ELMOKE

&quot;

;

he

is

a mysterious

personage, truly good and benevolent
to the suffering,

so sad

and melancholy, and yet so

so kind to the poor, so tender

and so amiable and gentle to all. He is a perfect gentleman, and I really believe, if I knew who he was, I should set my cap for him.&quot; You couldn t do better, LUCIE,&quot; said Miss GLAD
&quot;

STONE
of

&quot;

;

he

is

any damsel.

certainly worthy to possess the heart Not a day passes but we hear of

some new story of his beneficence. Why, sometimes I think he is the genius of benevolence itself, sent

down

into

our miserable, grief-stricken world
its sorrows.&quot;

to

lighten the burden of
&quot;But,

don

t

you

think,&quot;

rejoined Miss ELMORK,

THE FLOWER-GATHEKERS.
&quot;there

195
I have

is

something familiar in his looks?

often thought he bore a strong resemblance to Cap tain THORNBURY. His mouth is like the captain s,

and the

eyes, shade

and expression

of the face are

the same.

And

then, in character, the two gentle
1

men
&quot;I

are not unlike.

have often remarked the same,&quot; replied Miss GLADSTONE Captain THORNBURY, you know, was one of the most amiable and generous of men. By&quot;

;

the-by, I

wonder where he

is

now

!

I

would give

anything to see him.

Since he went out into the

western country, I cannot learn that he has been heard from but a very few times. We have missed

him much at our social gatherings. he would come back again, LUCIE ?
&quot;

Don t you
&quot;

wish
our

replied Miss ELMORE village has been dull enough since he left.&quot; And thus these charming maidens chatted

Indeed I

&quot;

should,&quot;

;

away

the time until the gray twilight began to spread over the landscape, when they gathered up their floral
treasures,

and

set out for their

homes.

For some

time their silvery laughter and melodious voices rang along the hill-side, and then died away in the
distance.

:-rr-

TJBGE

PLOTTERS.

1

Night, deep and black,

came down on sea and

land,

Cooling with dews the burning breath of day;

No sound was
The

heard, save on the distant strand,

low, dull

murmur

of the star-lit

bay.&quot;

ARNOLD.
*

*

*

Tliey do their

work

In secrecy and silence; but their power Is far more fatal than the open shafts

Of malice or of

hate.

Like spiders on

The

wall, they

weave the deadly web, to snaro
&quot;

The innocent and

good.

SWAIN.

CHAPTEE
EEP
and
hill

XII.

night had fallen on the world,
its

and About one hundred rods from the spot where, a little while since, we listened to the conversation of the maiden-troop, and a
little

long, thick shadows wrapt wood in their close embrace.

to the left of the path leading into the

town, lies a deep ravine, completely concealed from observation by overhanging trees and bushes, and watered by a small brook, which rolls its slug
gish waters down through the meadows to the sea. In one of the obscurer corners of this secluded place,

two persons

a gentleman and a lady

in earnest conversation.

were engaged were evidently in no They

very happy mood; for the gentleman kept beating the rocks impatiently with his feet, while the lady
stirred the water angrily with the stick of her parasol.
&quot;

So,
will
&quot;

ORALL,&quot;

said the lady,
Saturday.&quot;

&quot;you

say

MARY MORE

be at home on
Yes,
MAY,&quot;

replied

ORALL

&quot;

;

her mother received

a letter from her to-day, announcing her return at that time. Our schemes have not prospered well
;

and should MARY and MORLEY meet mutual explana tions would follow, and you would lose your husband.

1

200
&quot;And

Sift

NET OF KING SOLOMON.
ORALL,&quot;

you,
&quot;

MATTHEW

interrupted

MAY

MILLWOOD,
not?&quot;
&quot;

would lose your revenge, would you
!

By

all

in a voice
foiled at

demons replied the gentleman, low and husky with rage. We have been every turn, and I cannot but think that this
the
yes,&quot;
&quot;

called
to

meddling stranger the gentleman in black, as he is has had something to do with it. He seems

be as ubiquitous as the devil, always interfering, under the spacious pretence of charity and benevo
lence.

I

tell

you,

MAY,&quot;

he added, vehemently,
;

&quot;

have delayed this matter too long

you you should have
Urging him

caged your victim
&quot;

before.&quot;
&quot;

But,&quot;

rejoined MAY,

how

could I ?

hasten his marriage with me would only excite his suspicion, which has more than once already been
to

awakened.
so soon
!

How

If she could

unfortunate the girl should return have been detained only one
safe.&quot;

month longer, all would have been But why, in the devil s name, does MORLEY wish to postpone his marriage for a month ? asked ORALL.
&quot;
&quot;

It is a whim of his his birth-day comes then, and he has a fancy to be married at that time,&quot; re plied MAY. ORALL,&quot; resumed the girl, after a short pause, in a tone of deep meaning, MARY must not return.&quot; It is easy to say that but be so good as to tell
&quot;

;

&quot;

&quot;

&quot;

;

me how
&quot;

can be prevented ? replied ORALL. But I tell you it must be prevented, and you must
it
means,&quot;

&quot;

find the

said Miss MILLWOOD.

&quot;

Listen

:

you

THE PLOTTERS.
are a

201
skilled in

man

of genius

fertile in

inventions

all evil

tion of

expedients, and cunning enough for the execu any mischief. Go to New York to-morrow

;

seek out some of your old confederates, and create circumstances which will cast suspicion of crime on

Miss MORE.

Have her accused
if

of theft,

wantonness

necessary and thus secure her arrest for a period, and then we shall have time to accomplish our purposes.&quot;

even murder,

&quot;You

speak

wisely,&quot;
;

suggest may be done
cess, if

replied ORALL; &quot;what you and I doubt not- of suc

that devilish stranger,

who has

constituted

himself the champion of innocence, does not in
terfere.&quot;

&quot;You
&quot;

need not fear

him,&quot;

at least, not
is

now

;

for

he

is

not in

responded MILLWOOD, New York, and
for

there

no probability of his returning there
come.&quot;

weeks

to

&quot;Well,

MAY, I
it

will

fail this
if,

time

will not

do as you advise, and if we be my fault but remember
;

to

effect the

destruction of

that

girl,

we

step

deeper into crime you share
&quot;

all its dangers.&quot;
&quot;

What
&quot;

girl.

care I for dangers replied the wreckless I have set my soul on this affair, and I will
!

effect

my purpose,

The

or perish in the attempt.&quot; night-shadows grew thicker and blacker
;

around these children of crime

but the darkness
fell

without was not so black as the

purpose they were striving to execute. They conversed for a long time in a low tone, perfecting their plans, and pre9*

2O2

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

paring the means to strike their victim with a new

and more

fatal blow.

After a time everything seemed to be arranged to their mutual satisfaction, and they arose and
separated.

While
lodgings,

OIIALL,

by a

circuitous route, sought his

MAY went down

the narrow path alone.

just entered the street where it winds around several buildings, forming a complete turn, when a

She had

person, who had been partially concealed by an oldfashioned pump on the right, stepped out into the
road, and darted rapidly along the street ; but, as he passed her, he bent his head close to her ear, and

terrible effect

whispered something which, whatever it was, had a on the girl. She started with terror,

and staggering up to a fence which surrounded a stone house on the corner, supported herself against
She looked wildly around, but could see no person. The street was deserted, and not a solitary footfall broke the silence of the night. She threw back her bonnet, exposing her burning brow to the cool night wind, which now breezed up quite strongly from the sea. In a short time she recovered herself sufficiently to proceed on her way, and soon regained
it.

her dwelling. Going directly to her chamber, she threw herself into a chair, agitated by the most

gloomy forebodings.
Again, again,&quot; she cried, those dreadful words The voice will they never cease to ring in my ears ?
&quot;
&amp;lt;(

!

was that of THORNBURY, and yet THORNBURY

is

at

THE PLOTTERS.

203

the West, and I surely caught a glimpse of the flow ing locks of the strange gentleman who has made

himself so noted of

and what is this and a punisher of the guilty, as well as a helper of the poor and unfor tunate ? What connection has he with THORNBURY ?
late.

Who

man ?

Is he a detecter of crime,

Does he know

his

secrets?&quot;

These questions ran rapidly through the brain of the guilty girl. She had often met him, and his
presence always

He seemed
like

to

filled her with vague apprehensions. be omnipresent, following her steps

an avenging NEMESIS. Once, during a visit to Boston, as she was walking down Hanover street with MORLEY, she met him, and the same great fear
fell

upon

her, and,

under some pretence, she urged

MORLEY to turn back. A few minutes after passing down Sudbury street, she had scarcely passed the At lantic House, when the same mysterious person was
directly before her.

At
&quot;

this time,

her agitation was

so great that
&quot;How

MORLEY had
!

to place her in a coach.

herself

&quot;

;

she continued, speaking to strange it is I never see that man but I think of THORN:
!

Beware BURY, and hear again his fearful words But away with such are on the path of crime. you
they are only fancies I have chosen my path, and will walk in it I have accepted my destiny, and will fulfill it. This time I will not be frustrated

thoughts

!

;

;

in

my
so

me

That hated girl, who has crossed many times, shall be ruined, and I shall gain
design.

MORLEY.&quot;

204
But,
still,

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
there were times

when she did not

feel

quite so confident times of regret, almost of re morse when she would sigh for a past which could

never return, and shrink with dread from a future, But it which, at best, must always be dark to her.
&quot;

And golden prospects cheer us in our toils, Whose every view in rainbows is baptized;
Deceitful
all
!

soon fades the scene Elysian,
dissolves the
vision!&quot;

And disappointment grim

CHAPTEE
&quot;Home
!

XIII.

again!
it

Oh how

home again! from a foreign shore; makes the heart rejoice to see our friends once

more.&quot;

HITS sang MARY MORE on the morn ing of the day Friday when she
expected to set out on her journey homeward. Her heart swelled with

thought that in one day more she would be locked again only in her mother s embrace, and be permitted to
bosom.
press her beloved sisters to her affectionate She knew that a warm and tender welcome

joyful anticipations, as she

awaited her, not only in her own home, but among all her neighbors and acquaintances for she had
;

received numerous letters from her companions
particularly from
filled

LUCIE ELMORE

sfad

Miss GLAD

with the most friendly assurances, and STONE, many loving appeals for her to shorten her absence, and return speedily to the circle of which she was
the ornament, and
loved.

by which she was so tenderly Her imagination painted this scene of re
liveliest

union in the
she
felt

and
s

rosiest of colors.

Already

her mother

tender kiss upon her cheek,
heartfelt greetings of she loved so well.

and heard the sincere and
those dear friends

whom

208
It

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

was under the inspiration

of this feeling that she

seated herself at the piano, and, accompanying the instrument with her rich and melodious voice, sang
the song, the refrain of which we have quoted above. think we do not hazard anything in saying that,
griefs,

&quot;We

notwithstanding her bitter
disappointments,

and

trials,

and

MARY MORE was
happy
in

at that

moment
in the

supremely happy
duties well

the remembrance of

and

faithfully discharged

happy

This feeling anticipation of innocent joys to come. of deep contentedness beamed in all her person. Her
full

dark eyes shone with a

soft

and tender

light,

her

vermilion
smile
;

lips, slightly parted, were illumined with a the lively expression of her face gave evidence
;

of the cheerful animation of her soul

and as she

sat

there in the splendor of the morning, her long, dark curls vailing her alabaster neck and shoulders, and
roses, fresh and fair, she was and lovely as the glorious Flower-month herself, which, on rosy feet, was now treading along the hills, the meadows and streams, leaving behind her gifts of beauty and fragrance. The morning without was fair and cloudless, and fair and cloud less was the morning in her soul. But, alas it is when the sky is the most serene and radiant that the elements of the storm and thunder the most rapidly

ornamented with June
as radiant

!

gather

;

and,
&quot;The

fairest

day that ever shone
in darkness ere twas
noon.&quot;

Hath frowned

NEW EMBARRASSMENTS.
Tliis postulate of the poet,

209

regarding the physical holds equally true in the world of human world,
prospects, expectations,

And thus
of

and hopes. In the very midst to MARY. her bright anticipations and quiet joy, a cloud,
it

happened

she*

knew not how or why, appeared

to

descend

between herself and the pleasing picture she had been contemplating with so much delight. The
picture itself
further,

seemed

to recede gradually further

and

and grow

fainter in her view,

and an unac
a feeling that

countable sense of fear stole over her
the brilliant

dream of the morning would not soon be realized. Her heart throbbed violently, as if beating a note of alarm, or giving warning of some impending danger. ^But the resolute maiden was
not a person to yield for a long time to any dark or gloomy fancies ,and her thoughts marching forth
;

through the morning sunshine to her eastern home by the ocean side, the neat cottage of her mother,
nestling in its bower of trees, and shrubs, and roses, again rose on her sight, and the music of friendly voices fell soothingly on her ears. The cloud, for

the time, was lifted from her heart, and she lightly sprung up the stairway to her chamber, and com

menced making preparations for her journey. Her fellow-teachers, and some of her favorite pupils,
soon joined her there, and, with hearty friendli She ness, offered any service she might require. accepted their kind offers at once, and they were all

employe i

in

making arrangements

for her departure,

210

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

when a

servant appeared at the door of her room, and handed her a note. She immediately broke the seal, and read it.

Why, this must be from my mysterious friend,&quot; she said, directly what think you of his sugges tion?&quot; And she read the missive aloud to*hei
&quot;
&quot;

;

companions.
&quot;If

It

ran thus

:

Miss

MOKE

will delay her departure until to-morrow,

hei

friend will

accompany her

to

Oceanville.&quot;

&quot;

Do you mean
&quot;

that

it

is

the gentleman

who was

here to see you a few days
friends.
If

since?&quot;

asked one of her

stop, as

it

lie is the writer, I should urge you to would be so much better to have some

one

whom you know

to look out for you,

and take

charge of your baggage, particularly as you are so
inexperienced in traveling.&quot; I think as you do,&quot; replied
&quot;

MARY
it is

&quot;

;

and

of course

the letter must be from
style
;

him

;

his

own
&quot;

laconic
;

and, besides, I have no other friend here
-&quot;

he was to she continued, thoughtfully, have returned several days ago probably, however,&quot;
but
;

she added, after a moment s consideration, business has detained him till now, which is a fortunate occur
&quot;

rence

;

and I

shall

be truly grateful to him for his

protection.&quot;

So, notwithstanding her impatience to see her friends, she decided to wait for the company of one

who had

already, and on more than one occasion, shown such an abiding interest in her welfare.

NEW EMBARRASSMENTS.

211

reasoning and her decision were the most natural things in the world. The gentle
S

Now

Miss MORE

man

in

black,

by circumstances, had become
all

so
this

connected with
note, her

her

affairs

that,

on reading

mind

necessarily reverted to

him

as its

author, and her unsuspecting nature never could have imagined that it was written by any one else, or covered any sinister design. And yet there were

some considerations that might have occurred
If

to her.

she adhered to her

first

determination to set out

on Friday, she would proceed to Boston on the under the protection of Captain BROWN Metropolis&quot;
&quot;

and the kind-hearted chambermaids

of that steamer,
if

whom

she already knew
r

;

whereas,

she delayed
in

until the next day, the

passage must be made
;

another boat, where all w ere strangers besides, she would not reach home until Monday, with the addi
tional

Boston.

inconvenience of stopping over Sunday in Now, if she had been at all suspicious, she
friend,

might have asked whether her stranger

who

knew she could pass in of Captain BROWN, and

perfect safety in the care arrive home on Saturday

morning, would advise her to delay her departure, knowing, as he must, the inconvenience just alluded We say, to, and to which she must be subjected.
not.

she might have thought of these things, but ske did Not a shadow of doubt ever crossed her mind

in regard to the authorship of the note, and without the least hesitation she took the resolution we have
seen.

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
at the seminary, who had become attached to her, were evidently pleased with strongly the prospect of enjoying her society one day longer,

Her companions

the remaining hours of her stay as agreeable as possible. She spent the residue of the day pleasantly enough but when she retired to
to
;

and strove

make

rest she felt the

same dark shadow or

cloud,

which

had

fallen on her in the morning, stealing over her heart again. She tossed about on her bed for a long

But at length nature became exhausted, and she fell into a slumber not refreshing and restoring but unquiet, and disturbed by fearful visitations. She dreamed she was wan dering alone in a vast forest, dark and dense, and had lost her way in its bewildering labyrinths. The only sound she could hear was the distant roar of
time, courting sleep in vain.

the sea, as

it

dashed upon

its

precipitous shores.
steps.

Thitherward she bent her tottering
darkest shadow

Night

s

now spread

the grim wood. she sped like a frightened hare, with bleeding feet, and arms torn by the tangled underbrush. Horrid

a deeper gloom through Seized with a nameless terror, on

phantoms, with glaring eyes and threatening counte nances, flitted around her in the darkness, and swept
along her track in swift pursuit. Looking behind, she saw, to her amazement and horror, the faces of

MATTHEW OKALL and MAY MILLWOOD

no longer

wearing the features of mortals, but transformed into demons casting glances of fiery hatred upon her.

With

fiendish malice they rushed toward the trem-

NEW EMBARRASSMENTS.
bling
girl,

213

as

if

bent on her destruction.

She

flew

wildly along the dark path, but soon came to a sudden stop, and, with a cry of despair, cast herself

upon her knees.

She could proceed no further

;

she

stood on a precipice, overhanging a strand covered with sharp rocks, and on which the black ocean
rolled with a dismal funereal sound.

Onward pressed

phantom train onward rushed the demons, ORALL and MAY, and pushed her nearer and nearer to the edge of the abyss. She prayed and wept, and called for help in vain. They had seized her in
the
;

their ghostly arms, and, with hellish laughter,

were

raising her to cast her forth to a horrible death, when a sudden paralysis seemed to strike them. The
stillness

came over them, and they stood there with, fixed eyes and outstretched arms, motionless as the trees, the subjects of some
and
inactivity of death

strange enchantment. Wondering at the cause of this, she raised her head to see what it might be, when a voice, already familiar to her ears, resounded

through the forest
;&quot;

&quot;

:

By

this sign

thou shalt con

and, turning her face in the direction whence quer the voice proceeded, she saw approaching her name less protector. With a smile of triumph, he pointed
to a crosier,

toward her.
hands,

which extended over the demon-troop She eagerly seized it with both her
baffled persecutors turned

when her

and

fled,

howling and cursing through the darkness. Her deliverer took her by the hand; and forest, and
clouds,

and darkness

all

vanished in the twinkling

214
of an eye,

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

and she found herself standing among her
in the

own

flowers, before the cottage of her mother.

When MARY awoke
it

morning she retained

a

vivid recollection of this dream, nor could she banish

from her mind during the day. Was it a fore shadow of future trials and persecutions? or a
of those that

remembrance
either
;

were past ?

It

might bo

believe most devoutly that the for, Future sometimes reflects itself backward upon the

while

we

canvass of our dreams, and that dreams themselves are often the shadows of coming events, we are

ready to concede that, quite as
7

often, they are the

mysterious children of memory. But whether MARY S dream were a lingering shadow of the receding past,
or a mirage on the horizon before her, lifting up into view the events of the future, it left a gloomy im pression 011 her mind. The cloud grew thicker and

darker around her heart as the hour for her de
parture drew near and when at length the coach arrived which was to take her to the steamer she
;

a strange reluctance to leave the protection of her friends. But the thought that she was going
felt

this feeling, and, embracing her she stepped into the carriage, which companions,

home soon overcame
rolled rapidly away.

Every person who has been long Going home absent from friends and beloved ones will remember with what exhilaration of spirit and emotions of homeward. How his gladness he took the first step with sweet expectancy, and his soul bosom swelled
!

NEW EMBARRASSMENTS.
thrilled with joyful anticipations, as

215

he thought that

his steps

were now turned toward that sweet and

sacred spot, where dwelt the dear objects of his love,

whose images he had reverently and affectionately borne in his heart, through long, long months per
haps years over foreign lands and distant climes, and whose loved forms he was soon to embrace again Miss MORE felt all this and no sooner did she
!

;

hear the coach-wheels rattle along the pavement than the somber cloud vanished, and the warm, glad sunshine of hope and love, poured its floods of
radiance through her heart. Home mother sis ters friends how soon she would behold them

again

!

Her ardent imagination constructed a rosy
and

palace, where she dwelt with sweet thoughts, gentle presences, and forms of love and beauty.

Meanwhile, the carriage proceeded down Broad way as far as Chambers street, where it turned off at
the right, and, entering Greenwich street, stopped before an obscure hotel. The driver descended from
his box,

opened the coach-door, and
:

let

down

the

steps, saying
&quot;

I

won t keep you waiting
;&quot;

long, rna

am

;

I engaged
of his

to take another pei son to the

boat

;

we have plenty

of time

and he leaned against the fore-wheel

carriage, waiting for the
;

new passenger.

He

did not

have to wait long for the hotel door soon opened, and a woman, carrying a child in her arms, came

and entered the vehicle, which immediately dashed down Greenwich street toward the Battery.
out,

216
This

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

woman was

a middle-aged person of ordinary

appearance, and might be taken for a nurse some what ambitions or a boarding-house keeper. She was short and plump, and gaudily dressed; her arms, neck and hand were loaded with a profusion of

ornaments, intended to look like gold, which they were not, while her round, full cheeks glowed with a

bloom too lively to be natural. A shrewd, cunning light burned in her small, serpent-like eyes, which she
kept constantly rolling in her head, as if determined that no object should escape her observation. One familiar with all classes of society, and experienced
in reading countenances,

would have said that her

looks were decidedly vicious. But notwithstanding the long and curious stare

which the woman fixed upon her, on entering the coach, Miss MORE took little notice of her, her whole
attention having been absorbed

by the

little

child

she held in her lap, and which appeared to be ill. And this child a girl not yet two years old, but. now
helpless as an infant of as many months fail to arrest the attention of any one.

could not

She was

dressed coarsely and poorly, but her extraordinary beauty was beyond comparison almost startling,

we might
falling

say.

Her

little

pale face wore a look of

angelic sweetness, while her long black, elfin locks,

down beneath her straw-hat, covering her neck and shoulders with a profusion of curls, in
striking contrast with the pearly whiteness of her
skin,

gave her an appearance

difficult

to describe,

NEW EMBARRASSMENTS.

.

217

but which might perhaps be partly expressed by
the word supernatural. Her large expressive eyes, when she opened them for she remained most of the

time in a doze, apparently the effect of some powerful opiate beamed with a soft and tender luster, which

immediately went to the heart. Miss MORE gazed on the lovely creature with admi

and compassion. The strange, wild beauty of one excited her wonder, while the pains she was plainly suffering awakened in her sympathetic breast the deepest emotions of pity and love. Glancing from the child to the w oman who accom
ration

the

little

r

could not help wondering what could exist between the two persons so relationship one, the impersonation of grossness totally unlike

panied her,

MARY
;

and vulgarity the other, so fairy-like and spiritual. She had not time, however, for many conjectures for the carriage soon arrived at the dock of the steamer.
;

;

MARY descended first from the coach, and, obeying an impulse of natural kindness, stretched forth her
arms
to receive the child while the

woman

alighted.

The motion caused by the transfer, momentarily aroused it from its lethargy, and it raised its large,
wondering eyes to hers, and nestled close to her breast.

When

the woman had stepped out upon the landing, she offered to take the child again but MARY said she
;

on board, which seemed to suit the person well enough, for she made no objection, and they walked together to the boat, and seated

had as

lief

carry

it

themselves in the ladies cabin.
10

218
&quot;

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

at

This poor child is very said MARY, surprised, the evident indifference of the woman, as she
ill,&quot;

returned
&quot;

it

to her arms.
no,&quot;

&quot;

&quot;Is

it

yours?
&quot;

Oh

!

dear,
;

in
it

Boston

its mother is replied the latter ; but I have had the care of it ever since

Certain movements above, and a trembling of the boat, indicated that she had left her dock, and was

now on her way
and
restless,

to Fall Hiver.

MARY was uneasy

the door of the cabin.

and looked often and anxiously toward She expected to have seen her strange friend, directly she arrived on board, and now his non-appearance surprised her. She went to
the door, and looked out upon the deck. large crowd of men was gathered about the captain s office, getting their tickets, but a single glance sufficed to

A

convince her that he was not

among them.

She

next walked up into the state-room saloon passed through its entire length, examined the promenade

and aft, but could discover nothing of the she sought, and returned disappointed to the person
decks, fore
cabin.

Can I have been deceived ? she asked herself. Is it possible that note was written by some else, and with some design which I cannot penetrate?
&quot;

&quot;

NEW EMBARRASSMENTS.
;

219

No it must have been himself, and undoubtedly some unforeseen accident has detained him.&quot; She sat down again beside her traveling com panions, but was by no means easy in her mind. Alone among strangers, she was sad and dispirited. The frightful dream, too, of the preceding night now
rose in her

memory with

all

the distinctness of a

dread

reality.

from her demon-foes

Again, in thought, she was fleeing again she felt herself in their

hideous arms, and she started from her reverie, pale with fear. The shadow, thick and black, had fallen once more like a funereal pall around her heart.

Turning to the chambermaid, she asked I would &quot;Where is Captain BROWN ?
:
&quot;

like to see

him a
&quot;

moment.&quot;
!

Oh

go on
&quot;

this boat;

Lor, dear Miss, Captain BROWN does not he is the commander of the Me

tropolis.&quot;

True,

true,&quot;

resumed MARY

&quot;

;

I

had

forgotten.

But who is the some inquiries.&quot;
&quot;

clerk of this boat?

I wish to

make
and I

Mr.

SIMONDS,&quot;

replied the
if

chambermaid
you
like.&quot;

&quot;

;

will

ask him to step in here,
will

&quot;You

oblige
;

said Miss
errand.

MORE

very much if you will,&quot; and the woman departed on her

me

She soon returned, saying that Mr. SIMONDS would wait on her as soon as he could leave the
office.

That

officer soon,

He was

however, made his appearance. a good-looking gentleman, under thirty

220

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

years of ago, with, a benevolent expression of counte nance, and, altogether, appeared to be the right man in the right place&quot; ever ready to do all in
&quot;

his

power

for the comfortable

accommodation

of his

passengers, I expected to meet a friend on the boat,
&quot;

who was
&quot;

to

accompany me

home,&quot;

said Miss

MORE

;

but he

has not presented himself, and I fear he is not on board. I wish to inquire if any person answering to his description has been at the office for a ticket.&quot;

And
&quot;I

she gave the clerk a minute description of the

gentleman in black.

am
is

confident,&quot;

person

on board.

replied Mr. SIMONDS, &quot;no such All the passengers have been

supplied with tickets, and, had he been here, I should certainly have seen him, and the peculiarity of dress

and appearance you have spoken of would have caused me to remember him. But, now I think of
it,&quot;

he added, a gentleman such as you describe went down with us a few days ago.&quot; Indeed it is very, very strange. I surely must
&quot;

&quot;

!

have been
&quot;

deceived,&quot;

replied
&quot;

MARY,

in alarm.

your disappointment, madame,&quot; continued the clerk, but if there is any service we can render you we will do it cheerfully.&quot;

I

am

sorry for

Oh no, I am obliged to you,&quot; rejoined MAUY ; I dare say I shall get on well enough, only the unaccountable absence of my friend made me fear
&quot;

!

&quot;

that I

had been deceived
what

but not by him

nor can

I conceive for

purpose.&quot;

NEW EMBARRASSMENTS.
The
office.

221
to his

clerk

bowed

respectfully,

and returned

During

her

brief

conversation

with

Mr.

SIMONDS, MARY had not noticed how closely all her motives were watched by the little serpent eyes of
the

woman, who had
;

companion upon her. At this moment the child uttered a low wail, as if Miss MORE instantly bent over in intense pain.
toward
at the
it, when it opened its soft eyes, and, casting an eager look around, at last fixed them upon her
;

so unexpectedly become her nor did she see the sinister glance cast

same time

faintly crying,

The deepest compassion
;

of

Mamma, MARY S heart was now
&quot;

mamma.&quot;

thoroughly aroused and, disgusted with the appa rently unfeeling conduct of the woman, she asked the
privilege of taking the child,

and tending

it

for a

time herself.
quest, and,

The woman

readily granted her re

in the cabin, she

remarking that, as the air was very close would go out on the deck, and get
rose

a

&quot;

fresh

breath,&quot;

and went

out.

In the meanwhile, MARY supported the little suf ferer against her own warm and healthy bosom,
with her
its

left

parted white brow.

arm, while with the right hand she glossy curls, and gently stroked its fair

child soon yielded to the magnetic influence of her caresses, and passed into a calm

The

slumber.
chandelier

Turning slightly in her seat, the light of a fell full upon the face which nestled against

her breast.
look,

MARY cast

over

it

a long and scrutinizing

and bent her head thoughtfully on her hand,

222
&quot;

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

Surely I Lave never seen this child before,&quot; she said to herself and yet how familiar this face
&quot;

;

is to

me

!

How

closely
&quot;

it

is

joined in

my memory

some other face, which I have seen, I know not when nor where And her memory went away
to
!

in a long search for that other face, but failed to

find

it.

While Miss MORE was thus employed with her
conjectures, the

woman

we

call

her thus, not know
&quot;

ing any other designation was taking the air.&quot; On gaining the deck she paused for a moment, and

looked

around.

The steamer

at

this

time was
fore

heavily loaded, and the passages leading aft were necessarily very narrow and dark.

and

After a

moment s

examination, the

woman

darted into one

of these, and, proceeding carefully along,

paused in

the obscurest part of the passage. Uttering a low, sharp sound, something like the hissing of a snake, a dark mass was seen to
of leather above,

move

cautiously on a pile

end a
&quot;

figure slid

down, and stood

at her side.
&quot;

Is all going well

?

said the figure, in a low, quick
&quot;

voice.
&quot;

Admirably
&quot;the

!

admirably

!

replied the

woman

;

child,
if it
&quot;

young lady already seems attached to the and tends it as carefully and affectionately as
own.&quot;
well,&quot;

were her
Tis

resumed the

&quot;

figure

;

and here are
one,

the

articles.&quot;

He

gave her two parcels

a

small white paper, apparently containing a powder,

NEW EMBARRASSMENTS.
and the
other,

223
with

a phial, partly filled

some

kind of liquid. The woman hastily put them in her pocket, and returned to the cabin, while the
figure stealthily climbed the leather.

up again

to his

bunk on

During the evening, several of the kind-hearted lady-passengers came to MARY, and offered their services in the care of the child, whose wonderful
beauty elicited remarks of admiration, while
its

suf

ferings awakened their deepest pity. As the three had come on board together, and Miss MOKE had been in constant attendance on the child, they sup posed, naturally enough, that it was connected with
tie of relationship, while they looked the gross woman who accompanied her as a upon servant or nurse. But MARY, so absorbed was she

her by some

in the sacred duty she

noticed
eyes,

this.

The
It

artful

was then discharging, never woman, with the serpent

had

skillfully

it

appearance. suited her purposes, whatever they were. The evening wore away most of the ladies had
;

was precisely what she

contrived to give the matter this desired, as

already retired,
to the

woman

feeling weary, signified her desire to do the same, and placed

and MARY,

the

still

sleeping child in that person s lap.

Her

preparations were soon made, and she was just falling asleep when a low cry from the child aroused
her.

Kaising her head, and looking down from her berth, she saw that the poor sufferer was awake, and
rested uneasily in the

arms

of the

woman.

224
&quot;

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

As she

is

so restless with

me,&quot;

said the latter,

and so quiet with you, Miss, would it be asking too much of you to allow her to lie by your side ? She will not trouble you, and she seems more tranquil and easy when near you.&quot;
&quot;

MARY

on her bosom, kissed the

willingly received her,- and, laying her again little pale face that rested

against hers, with deep emotion. She had always been noted for her strong affection toward children, and her young heart overflowed with tenderness for

them when they were ill. moved by the sufferings
earnestly for
better for
its

Her whole
of
this

soul

was now

sweet child, so thrown upon her care, and she prayed strangely
&quot;

recovery.

And
&quot;

yet,
it

who

knows,&quot;

she said, speaking to herself,
it

but

would be

far

to die

now ?

&quot;

The
to

child soon

became easy
girl,

caresses of the loving

who had drawn

again, under the it close

her breast, and they both, in a few moments, were fast asleep and thus those two innocent hearts
;

slept, gently withdrew from her, and out into the cabin. Most of the passengers stepped

had already completed their preparations for leaving the boat, and had gone out on the deck, with the
usual impatience of travelers
;

each of

whom

seems

NEW EMBARRASSMENTS.
to

225

be impelled by the singular ambition to be the She was, first to land, and the first to embark.

Her first impulse was to not seeing her anywhere, she supposed that she had not yet been awakened, and went to her berth to call her. To her surprise, the
therefore, quite
alone.
;

look for the

woman

woman was
her through
inquiries of

in during the night.

not there, nor had the berth been slept She ran out, and sought for

every part of the steamer, making many but the missing nurse could no
;

where be found.
girl

Confused and bewildered, the poor returned to the cabin. She now saw that the

carpet-bag and band-box of the
also,

woman were

gone,

and nothing remained of her luggage but a small basket, which, on examination, was found to
contain only articles of dress, belonging to the child. She knew not what to think, nor what to do. At

she thought of calling the officers of the boat, and, acquainting them with the circumstances of the case, leave the child with them. But none
first,

of them were in sight; nor had she time to look them up, as the passengers were already landing
;

and, besides,
less

how

thing

among
r

could she leave the poor, help strangers! At this moment she

thought of
resolution

the child

Mr. CLAFLIN, the conductor, and her w as immediately taken. She would carry to Boston. She doubted not that this
its

gentleman would aid her in finding

mother;

perhaps, even, as she was expecting the child, there might be persons at the railway station to receive it. 10*

226

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

So, hastily throwing on her things, and wrapping the little girl in a shawl, she hurried from the boat to

the cars.
It

was certainly a perplexing
;

situation for a young-

for many an older person would girl to be placed in have found it difficult to decMe what to do in such

an extraordinary emergency. Notwithstanding her previous experiences, Miss MOKE S nature was as
confiding and unsuspecting as before
;

and

in all her

it

conjectures, regarding her present singular position, never crossed her mind that all which had occurred
;

was the

result of deep-laid plans nor that the poor, deserted child she held in her arms could in any

way seriously affect her own destiny. That the unknown woman or nurse had wickedly abandoned
her charge she did not doubt but she could not suspect that this circumstance had any reference to And now that she had become herself personally.
;

sole protector of this waif, which, on the great sea of humanity, had floated to her arms so mysteriously, the kindness of her heart, and her

by accident the

deep compassion for its sufferings, were such that no considerations could have moved her to cast off
the responsibility upon others. Believing, without a doubt, that in a few hours, at farthest, the little invalid would be safely restored to its mother s arms, where it could receive all the loving care which its
state required, she cheerfully assumed, for the time being, the united duties of mother and nurse ; and

never was a child the object of a tenderer care, nor

NEW EMBARRASSMENTS,
watched over with a truer
affection,

227

nor protected by

a braver or more loving heart.

She was wholly absorbed in the contemplation of the tiny countenance, which, pale as a lily, lay before her, and musing on the strange resemblance it bore
to

some other

face

which her memory could not
any of her acquaintance,
:

identify as belonging to

when a
&quot;

voice at her side aroused her
&quot;

Tickets, Miss ? and Miss MORE turned directly toward the person from whom tfye voice came, fully expecting to see the familiar face of Mr. CLAFLIN.

But she was

surprised,

find another, a total

and somew hat troubled, to stranger, in his place. She gave
r

the conductor a ticket, and, thinking that possibly Mr. CLAFLIN might be on the train, she inquired after him.
&quot;

is

not on the cars this morning. Sundays he replied the conductor, and he frequently
is
off,&quot;

He

passed along. This was a painful disappointment for MABY. She knew Mr. CLAFLIN would interest himself in her
behalf,

and had placed her entire dependence on him to relieve her from her embarrassing situation. She shrunk from making any appeal to strangers,
it

although she could scarcely explain why. Perhaps was an instinctive feeling, which had not yet taken the palpable form of a definite thought, that she

would be looked upon with suspicion, and her simple story fall on incredulous ears. Her expectations of
assistance from Mr. CLAFLIN having, therefore, failed

228

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

her, she felt her heart sink as she

thought that she

now must depend wholly upon herself. The reply of the conductor, also, awakened her to the knowledge of another perplexity. The thought
had never occurred to her before that she would arrive in Boston on Sunday morning, and be com pelled to stop in the city till Monday. This, indeed, would have been of but little consequence, had she
any friends in the
city with

whom

she might tarry

;

but she was absolutely a stranger, and could not think of a single acquaintance in or near Boston.

Pondering on the various incidents connected with
her journey, since receiving the note, inviting her to defer her departure till Saturday, she began to feel a

vague apprehension of she knew not what, stealing over her. The shadows again grew heavy and dark

around her heart.
at work,

Her imagination was now busy and painted a gloomy picture for her mind
&quot;

to contemplate.

What,&quot;

she said to herself,
&quot;

&quot;

shall

I do

if

the mother or friends of this poor child are
it ?

not at the station to claim

Although she asked the question with consider
able anxiety, yet she believed fully that this part of the woman s story was true, and that the ex

pected child

would be
it

sought for and

received
Still,

by

relatives directly

arrived in the city.

should they, from any cause, fail to appear, she could not but feel that the difficulties of her position

would be

frightfully

augmented, and

this possibility

she contemplated with even increasing uneasiness.

NEW EMBARRASSMENTS.

229

Meanwhile, the train whirled along, with the speed
of

the storm, and, while she was
meditations,

still

plunged in

her painful

stop in the station-house. In her impatience to find the friends of her protege, she almost ran from the car ; and,
to

came

a

her with the everlasting question
a carriage,
Miss?&quot;

unheeding the numerous hack-drivers who accosted Will you have
&quot;

:

depot, scanning met. She examined the ladies apartment, and went out upon the sidewalks, but could discover no per

walked rapidly up through the carefully every countenance she

son
the

who appeared
arrival

to

be waiting

for,

or expecting
girl

of friends.

The bewildered

con

tinued the fruitless search, until she saw that she

was an object
persons who
returned to the

of

suspicious curiosity to

several

still

lingered around, when she hastily place where she had left the cars.

A

to be near, who, noticing her demeanor, approached her, and offered perplexed his services to take her to whatever place she desired.

coachman chanced

She followed him mechanically. &quot;Have you any baggage?&quot; he inquired, as he let down the steps, and assisted her to enter. In her anxiety, and the confusion of her ideas, she had entirely forgotten it, and taking her checks from a porte-monnaie, she gave them to him. The baggage was soon procured, and lashed to the carriage, when the driver again came to the door, and asked where she would go. The unhappy maiden knew not where to go. She disliked going

230
to

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

a hotel, and, after pausing a
:
&quot;

moment

to consider,

replied

private boardinga stranger in the city, and do not know of any one that I would prefer.&quot;

Take me
I

to

some respectable

house.

am

&quot;

All

right,&quot;

he rejoined, and, mounting his box,

drove away, and, after a few minutes, MARY found herself in a comfortable boarding-house, in Bedford
street.

It

were

stirring in the

servants.

in the morning, and none house but the landlady and MARY resolved, as soon as possible, to

was yet early

acquaint that person with her anomalous situation, and seek her advice; but her first care was for the deserted child. She procured warm, fresh milk
for its breakfast,

washed and dressed
its

it

with care,

and made
possible.

it

as comfortable as

condition rendered

In the course of the forenoon the landlady came
to her room,

when Mary,

in simple

and earnest lan

guage, explained to her the unfortunate circumstances
in

which she found herself entangled.

She described

to her, minutely, every incident, from the time the woman and child entered the carriage in New York,
to her arrival in

Boston
a

;

and ended by imploring

her advice and assistance.
&quot;It

is,
&quot;

truly,

coldly

;

but

it

is

strange tale,&quot; replied the lady, a little too romantic to be true,&quot;

and she eyed the amazed girl with looks of suspicion and distrust. MARY was thunderstruck. She felt herself on the point of fainting, and would have

NEW EMBARRASSMENTS.
fallen to the floor, liad she

231

not supported herself by

sat opposite, watching as if studying her fair and beautiful her attentively, face, and tearful eyes, now rendered more interesting

the side of a bed.

The lady

by the expression of sorrowful anxiety which they wore. The study was not without a favorable result
;

for she hastily rose, and, taking the weeping girl kindly by the hand, said
:
&quot;

Have

courage,

child

;

we ll

see

what can be

done.&quot;

then, turning toward the bed, she appeared to be struck by the marvelous loveliness
still

And

of the little castaway, -which, lay there so

and

condition. pale, as well as touched by its helpless After a few more words of a friendly character to

Miss MORE, she

left

the room.
reassured.

MARY was by no means

The

cruel

remark of the landlady, so plainly implying a want of faith in her story, rankled like a barbed arrow
in

her

breast

;

and, for

an

instant,

she

felt

a

emotion of displeasure toward the child, which had thus become the innocent occasion of her painful embarrassments. But, instantaneous
slight

and

faint as the feeling was, the kind-hearted girl
it;

immediately reproached herself for permitting
and, casting herself

upon the bed by the side of the foundling that lay there, watching her with its soft, earnest eyes, took it in her arms, and embraced
it

tenderly.

The poor

child responded to her ca

resses

by placing neck, and laying its

its little

white arms around

MARY S

pale, cold face close against hers.

232
&quot;

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
&quot;

Poor deserted thing she said what mother could be so heartless or thoughtless as to trust so fair a flower away from her, and intrust it to the guardianship of strangers ? Who, and where is that mother ? This latter was certainly a very pertinent question, and Miss MORE felt that her first endeavor must be to find its answer. But how was this to be effected ? She had not the slightest shadow of a clue to guide her in her researches. She might advertise the lost one, or enlist the aid of the police, which would be well enough, supposing the parents had not them selves discarded the unfortunate child, and desired
&quot;

!

;

&quot;

to reclaim her.

anxiously revolved these matters in her mind time, when she suddenly started up, and, the basket containing the child s clothing, taking
for

MARY

some

began an examination of each article separately. Every piece of linen was closely scrutinized, in the hope of finding a name on something, that might serve to throw some light, however faint, on the mystery. Her search for a long time was fruitless, and the contents of the basket were nearly emptied,
when, on taking up a little frock, she felt something carefully concealed among its folds, that crumpled beneath the pressure of her hands, like paper. She quickly unfolded the dress, and, on shaking it, a
large envelope
fell

to the floor.

Eagerly seizing
;

it,

she saw

it

was unsealed, and bore no direction
it,

and,

immediately opening

discovered a paper, folded

NEW EMBARRASSMENTS.
in a neat business-like

233

manner, which she began to
far,

however, when a frightful pallor spread over her face. She trembled violently in every limb, and seemed to be entirely
read.

She had not proceeded

prostrated by some powerful emotion, either of fear or amazement.

she cried, at length Is there to be no end to the labyrinth of mysteries in
&quot;
&quot;

Gracious heavens

&quot;

!

;

And, casting a wondering, look upon the child, sank down on the side inquiring of the bed.
of which had produced was a policy of insurance on the life of a child, one year and eleven months old, and duly described therein the amount of which was to be paid, on the event five thousand dollars of its death, to MARY MORE, her mother and sisters The description, in the document, of the child was so

which I

am wandering?

&quot;

The paper, the reading
results,

such strange

;

!

minute that

MARY

could not doubt for a

moment

that the fragile infant at her side was the person indicated. But in what way had their destinies

become

? What connection was what unaccountable fatality there between them ? By had they now been thrown together ? What persons, interested in the child, had manifested an interest, in this singular manner, in her and hers? These ran through her mind with the rapidity of questions thought but the astonishment of the maiden had so

so strangely united

;

bewildered her that she could not even form a con
jecture

by way

of response.

234

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

After many vain attempts to look into the mystery, she arose, took up the policy, placed it again in the envelope, and returned it to its hiding-place in the
folds of the frock,

which she replaced, with the other

articles, in the basket.

She had no time
child

now

MARY

for further questionings for the uttered a sharp cry, as if in great distress. flew to the bed, and, becoming alarmed by the
;

increased paleness of the sufferer, ran to the

bell,

and rang

for assistance.

The landlady soon made

her appearance, and, going to the bed, examined the
child attentively.

indeed, dangerously ill. Had I not better send for a physician ? she said, at length. Oh do, do replied MARY, earnestly, and the
&quot;

It

is,

&quot;

&quot;

&quot;

!

!

tears

her eyes as she beheld the alarming symptoms, which were now rapidly mani
started
into

festing themselves.

physician was sent for, and while MARY, holding the little girl in her arms, tried to soothe her to sleep, the lady prepared

A

some quieting drinks for her. But nothing they She was plainly could do brought any relief. fast. MARY bent over her, with the most failing intense anxiety and sorrow depicted in her counte
nance.

The

affectionate

girl

forgot

all

her

own

troubles in her solicitude for this poor stricken one. She grieved over it as if it were her own, and she

prayed fervently that

it

might be spared.

Others

now came into the room, treading softly, as all do, by a natural impulse, who approach the place where

NEW EMBARRASSMENTS.

235

a life, whether young or old, is known to be trembling on the shore of the Eternal Sea. They drew near silently, and surveyed, with curious glances, the beautiful death-struck child, and the fair girl,

now
care.

pale with grief,

who tended

it

with such loving

They had heard,
lady, of

in the morning,

from the land

strange adventure, and, like that person, were disposed to discredit it. There are many too many indeed of malicious hearts,

Miss

MORE S

who, having

once harbored a suspicion, through
it
;

vanity, persist in seeking confirmations of

and

they fail not to give to every appearance such a construction as will seem to justify their evil
surmises.

excellence of

And so it happened now. The very MARY S character, and the excessive

kindness

of her heart the strong affection she evinced toward the dying child all were made to testify against her, in the minds of those who

crowded around.
one, and, above

Her
her

evident love for the
grief, so

little

all,

deep and sincere,

proved clearly enough to them that the child was
not a deserted foundling, but her own, which she wished to cast off and the love she now manifested
;

toward
that
it

it

morse.

they accounted for on the supposition was a transient feeling awakened by re MARY, however, happily saw none of those

looks of doubt and distrust, so absorbed

was she by

her

grief.

Meanwhile, the physician arrived, and commenced

236

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

an examination of the patient.
inquiries,

In answer to his

MARY gave
all

a particular description of the

and had been
child,
&quot;

in

symptoms it had shown since it her care, and then, in a voice choked
the
:
;

with emotion, she cried * do save her Oh doctor,
!

!

Oh

!

do not

let

her

die!&quot;

&quot;I

cannot save
&quot;

her,&quot;

he replied, gravely

;

&quot;she

has

been poisoned

!

she exclaimed, no say not that oh do not say that. &quot;Who could be vehemently so cruel as to do so wicked a deed? She is so
&quot;

MARY Oh
!

started with a look of horror.
&quot;

no,
;

;

!

&quot;

!

lovely!&quot;
&quot;I

know
life.

not,

young

lady,&quot;

he

replied,

&quot;who

could have been so base as to cut the threads of that

young
&quot;

All I

know

is

that she

is

poisoned

murdered,

probably.&quot;

dear, dear child,&quot; sobbed MARY, and she raised the lovety form ten passionately derly in her arms, and kissed its now livid lips.
!

Oh

poor
;

The dying infant opened its eyes for a moment, beaming with supernatural brightness, while a At this sweet smile played around its mouth.

moment

the

rays

of

the

setting

sun

streamed

into the room,
to envelop its

falling upon the child, seemed and fairy form in a golden shroud,

and

the soul of the murdered infant floated the sunbeams
angels.

away on
the

away

to its bright

home among

NEW EMBARRASSMENTS.

23?

The exciting events which had been crowded into the last twenty-four hours of her life, terminating in this tragical manner, were too nmcli for the sensitive
girl,

and she

fell

into a swoon.

She lay

in a state of

unconsciousness for some length of time, and when she finally returned to herself, she was not suffi
ciently restored to
to

comprehend her

position, nor fully

around her.

understand the proceedings that were going on As the clouds, however, cleared away

from her brain, she saw that several men were in her chamber, one of whom advanced with some rude
ness toward her, but paused a few paces distant, as if struck, not only by the exceeding beauty of her per son, but, also, by the artless and innocent expression
of her face,

sorrow.
said
&quot;

and perhaps touched by her unaffected Assuming a more respectful demeanor, he
most unpleasant duty to perform, Miss. called to your child, alledges

:

I have a

Dr. LORING,
that
it

who was

of poisons, while other extraordinary circumstances attending the case together with the fact that this phial and paper, containing portions of the poisons, were found

was destroyed by a combination

upon your person fasten suspicion upon you, and I have been ordered by a magistrate to arrest you as
the probable
murderer.&quot;

This terrible blow was too much for the unfortu nate girl, and she would have fallen to the floor had
she not been caught by the officer. &quot;Murderer!&quot; she whispered, faintly; a mur-

&quot;I,

238
derer
! !

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

mean ?

&quot;

Oh my GOD, my GOD, what can all this And she looked around in utter bewilder

ment. Stunned by the horrible accusation, she spoke no more, but did mechanically as she was bidden. The officers gathered up her effects, and placing her unresisting form for she was as helpless as a child
in a carriage,

conducted her to prison.

iisr

What next befel me, then and there, I never knew: I know not well
First

came the

loss of light

and

air,

And
I

then of darkness too;

had no thought

no

feeling

none

;

On dungeon
Tis done
!

walls I leaned alone.

I

saw

it

in

my

dreams;

No more

with hope the future beams,

My

days of happiness are few.

Chilled by misfortune s wintry blast,

My dawn

of

life is

overcast;

Love, hope, and joy, alike adieu,

Would I could add, remembrance,

too

!

!

CHAPTEK

XIV.
held on

HE

coroner

s inquest,

Mon

day morning, on the body of the murdered child, was brief, and re
death by administered intentionally by poison, MORE;&quot; and the examination of the
sulted in
&quot;

a verdict of

MARY

unfortunate girl was ordered to take place on the following Saturday. The terrible situation
into

which she had been so suddenly thrown com

pletely

benumbed her

senses,

and throughout that

dismal Sunday night she remained in a state of In the morning, however, she partial delirium.

became more calm and

collected, and, strengthened

by a consciousness

of her innocence, resigned her self with Christian fortitude to her fate. Notwith

standing the perils that environed her, she never once thought of herself, nor of any shame or pain she

might herself suffer her mind was in her old home by the sea, and with those who were looking with
;

such anxious love for her return.
fearful,

Her

grief

w as
r

agony

of her

as her imagination pictured the dreadful mother and sisters, when the news of
11

her arrest, and of the awful charge alledged against

242

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

her, should reach them.

they, at least,
felt

Although she knew that would never believe her guilty, she that she should lose no time in acquainting them
all

with

the

circumstances

so far as

she could

comprehend them which had led to this misfortune. With this end in view, she rose, and taking a small traveling case, containing writing and
herself

other materials, emptied its contents upon a small table attached to one of the walls of her cell, and

was about seating herself to write, when the door was opened, and several persons entered. She saw at a
glance, by their badges, that they were officers of the law, while one of them wore the insignia of High Sheriff. This latter gentleman was in truth Sheriff

CLARKE, a person well known for his benevolence and humanity to the unfortunate. He looked upon
the fair prisoner, now shrinking before him, with sorrow and pity, while the others surveyed her with
looks of

abhorrence, indicating plainly that there was but one opinion among them in regard to her
guilt.

A

been committed

crime of unparalleled atrocity had indeed one that could not fail to arouse

the deepest indignation of the whole community and, as every circumstance seemed to fasten the dark

deed upon Miss MORE,

it

was but natural that

all

should entertain a feeling of detestation toward one who was believed to be guilty of an offense so
shocking. I am compelled, Miss MORE,&quot; said the sheriff, to take charge, for a time, of after a short pause,
&quot; &quot;

IN PRISON.

243

your papers and

effects,
;&quot;

ing as you may need a sign to the officers to remove them.

except such articles of cloth at the same time he made

They obeyed

with an alacrity somewhat rude and indecorous, and withdrew from the cell. In the meantime, the
sheriff,

drawing nearer to the

table,

and glancing

casually over its contents, uttered a slight exclama His eyes seemed to be riveted tion of surprise.

on some object that deeply interested him. After scanning it closely a few minutes, he took it up, and,
hastily laying

open several paper infoldings, with increasing surprise examined its contents. Where did you get this ? he asked, with some
&quot;

&quot;

abruptness, at the same time casting a look of suspicion toward the trembling prisoner, as if he

supposed she had stolen it. My mother gave it me on the day I left home for New York, nearly a year ago it belonged to my she replied, in a tremulous, but somewhat father,&quot;
&quot;

;

eager voice.
&quot;

&quot;What

!

MORE,
here,
&quot;

my

measure.

you a daughter of Captain JAMES old friend ? he cried, astonished beyond A child of Captain MORE should not be you
&quot;

&quot;

and charged with such a crime I am, in truth, his most unfortunate child,&quot; she and it is equally true that I rejoined, earnestly am innocent of this fearful crime. Oh in my dead
!
&quot;

&quot;

;

!

father s name, I implore
wei-e

If you you him by any secret ties if there are any obligations which connect you with those whom

to believe me.

bound

to

244

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
inucli loved

he so

on

earth.

if

there be any power

or virtue in the mute appeal of that jewel, called the Signet of King Solomon as my father s letter seems
,

to imply, I beseech
&quot;

you

to assist

me

in

my

present
a

trials

!

The

sheriff

was deeply moved, and
&quot;

replied, in

tone of kindness

:

As an
;

officer,

I

am

compelled to

repress my own feelings and what the laws decree I must execute, although the blow should fall on my
notwithstanding,&quot; he added, should not strike the inno justice cent, and justice itself should be the protector of virtue. As to yourself, my heart and your truth

own

flesh

and blood

;

&quot;the

sword of

ful

and earnest manner forbid me to believe you guilty yet I must not conceal from you the fact
; ;

that circumstances are strongly combined against you and others may not be so ready to acquit you

However, you shah not want friends, to assist you friends,&quot; he continued, laying his hand upon the mystic jewel, who comprehend the duties which
as
I.
&quot;

1

this token calls

them

to

discharge.&quot;

leaving the cell of Miss MORE, the sheriff went to the jailer s office, and, after a short conference with that officer, rode away in his carriage.

On

A

quarter of an hour after, the jailer s wife appeared in MARY S cell. She stood for some time gazing upon the poor maiden with a look of astonishment, which

seemed

to say could accuse, or even suspect, such a girl of this dreadful crime? She is an angel,
:

Who

rather than a murderess.

&quot;

I have

come,&quot;

she at

IN PRISON.
&quot;

245
this cell.

length said,
sheriff

to conduct

you from

The

has ordered us to furnish you with better accommodations, and to do what we can to promote

your comfort while here, which I pray Heaven not be long.&quot;

may

The new apartment into which the lady led her tolerable chamber in the most pleasant of the prison. It was fitted up with some care part
was a very
;

the table was covered with books, and ornamented

with newly-gathered flowers, which the kind jailer had ordered to be placed there, and the room throughout wore an air of comfort and quiet.

MARY now resumed
interrupted
stances

the task
of

which had been
the
all

by the

entrance

officers

of

writing to her mother.

She related

the circum

had so mysteriously accumulated around her, until they formed an immense net, which had now entangled her in its fatal meshes. To mitigate, as much as possible, the grief of her
which
T

parent, she wrote in a strain of cheerful hopefulness,

which she was far from feeling herself; and, in closing the letter, exhorted her mother not to be too anxious about her, as she w as kindly treated, and
r

their

invisible

friends,

who had
to

so

many

times

shown

their

will

and power

serve them, were

already acquainted with her situation, and would spare no pains to establish her innocence and dis

cover the guilty. After folding and sealing her

leiter,

she leaned her

head forward on

her hands, and commenced to

240

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

review in her mind the various events which were

connected with

her present

condition.

Did she

really have enemies who desired to effect her de struction ? Was the note which led her to postpone

her departure for home till Saturday intended to lead her into this dangerous snare ? Who w as the woman who so basely deserted her charge? and,
r

above

all,

who was

that child, so fair

and sweet, and

surance, too,

so foully murdered ? The mysterious policy of in what did that mean ? was it a part of

a plot ?

And

came they there ?

the poisons found on her person, how She was satisfied that all these

circumstances could not be the result of accident, but

must have been planned with a malice as cunning as But what motive could have induced it was infernal. one to perpetrate so dreadful a crime against any her ? It was not easy to find an answer to these The whole matter was a dark and terri questions.
ble mystery, and,
results to herself, she shuddered.

when she thought of the possible Even should she

escape with life and liberty, would she not be looked upon with distrust and cold disdain? The
of prison had always inspired her with and was associated in her mind with vice and horror, Would guilt and now she was a prisoner herself.

very

name

;

not the taint of the place always cling to her ? If set at liberty emerging from this abode of crime
could she again hold up her head in society? She knew that she could lay her wounded heart and aching head upon her mother s breast, and there,

ix PRISON.
4

247
1

arms of her sisters, find ah the old love more but would not others shun her as an perhaps infected thing, and treat her with scornful neglect ? Her nature was always over-sensitive, and now, rendered more nervous and excitable by her misfor

and

in the

tunes, her fancy painted the future in the darkest

and gloomiest colors. She felt that the world would never again have any joy or brightness for her;
that she

must bid adieu

to all the sweet delights

of friendship, and, with a bleeding heart and spirit, drag her weary way along to the end.

broken

At the

same time she pictured her companions the play mates of her childhood and youth radiant with ex
pectation and love, advancing through a
shine, which they
at
life

of sun

once ornamented and enjoyed,

while she, a poor, blasted flower, must droop and die in shadows and darkness. Thus, drearily and slowly, wore away the first day of MARY S imprisonment.

On Tuesday,

the

little

courage which had so far

sustained her was gone, and, both mentally and physically, she was completely prostrated; and, on Wednesday, she was a picture of hopeless despair.
Visited with frequent attacks of hysteria, she would
toss
wife,

on her bed, moaning piteously. The jailer s who watched over her with sisterly affection,

could not restrain her tears, as she witnessed these paroxysms of grief. Sometimes the hapless maiden

appeared to be partially delirious, and would walk the room, wringing her hands, and calling loudly on hor mother to come and save her.

248

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
*
fits

despondency and despair, the jailer softly entered the room, accom panied by a lady dressed in deep mourning. She was a handsome woman, in the prime of life, but she

During one of these

of titter

stepped feebly, and her head and body bent down ward, as if burdened with a mountain of sorrow.

MARY S back was toward

the door as they entered, but the noise drew her attention, and turning round, she gave a wild cry of joy, and cast herself on the

bosom
&quot;

of her mother.
&quot;

she exclaimed, as she Oh, mother mother wound her clinging arms around her parent s neck
!
!
&quot;

;

I did not oh, save me from this horrid place murder that poor child. Oh indeed I did not, and The mother s grief was so yet they will kill me
!

!

&quot;

!

she could only strain great she could not speak the unfortunate one to her heart, and try to soothe her with loving caresses. And the pale, suffering
;

upon that faithful breast, where, a tiny infant, she had lain, under the shelter of a mother s great love and a father s anxious care where, in childhood, she had fled to sweep away her childish sorrows and where, in youth, she had ever found consolation and support. There now, like a fearful dove pursued by some bird of prey, she It was sought refuge from the blasting storm.
child nestled there
;
;

the one solitary rock in

ocean of

life

the boundless, surging could cling for safety. to which she
all

The

affecting

scene

moved

the

jailer

to

tears,

while his wife sobbed audibly.

They soon

softly

IN PRISON.
left

the

cell,

and the mother and daughter were

alone.

was

Mrs. MORE, after a short time, sufficiently recovered from
to

her agitation

address

some

soothing words of encouragement and hope to her daughter, who soon, under these gentle ministrations,

became more calm.
she said,
&quot;

&quot;Your

friends

at Oceanville,

desired
11*

me

to

express

to

you

their

warmest sympathy and

love.&quot;

250
&quot;They

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

do not believe
&quot;

me

guilty,

then?&quot;

cried
&quot;

them for that MAIIY, eagerly. who Oh no, my child,&quot; replied the mother that ever knew you could believe you guilty ? They
bless
!
&quot; &quot;

Oh, Heaven

!

;

are

all fully

convinced that your connection with that

awful mystery was either the result of accident, or

some wicked scheme to get you into trouble. They fully acquit you, and are filled with indigna
of tion that

MILLWOOD may be an exception

any one should even suspect you. Miss for her demeanor
;

has been strange of late, and she has several times, when your friends have spoken of you with approba
tion,

yet,

been heard to make disparaging remarks. And when the news came that a poor child had been

and you were accused of the deed, she was terribly agitated, and fell down in a This was of short duration, however fainting fit. the agitation soon passed away, and she was as cold
cruelly slaughtered,
;

and

indifferent as

ever.&quot;
&quot;

ard MORLEY ? and with some hesitation,
&quot;And
&quot;

said
&quot;what

MARY,
does he

inquiringly,
think?&quot;

He appears to be deeply grieved on your account,&quot; expresses no opinion. He rejoined Mrs. MORE and is completely spell-bound by MAY MILLWOOD
;

&quot;but

;

yet,

judging by his melancholy and restless manner, one would say that he was far from being happy, or satisfied with himself he is indeed much changed LUCIE ELMORE and Miss GLADSTONE,&quot; she hastily
;

added, as if desirous of changing the subject, intend to be here on Saturday, to support you in court.&quot;

&quot;

IN PRISON.
&quot;

251

Do

they

?

Oh

!

how
;

confidence and affection
to

it

grateful I feel for their will be such a comfort
mother?&quot;
&quot;

have them to lean on
&quot;

and you,
you,&quot;

I shall remain with
shall see

she replied,

to the

you every day.&quot; day and the succeeding ones, that strong and loving mother strove to soothe and cheer her child, and impart to her strength to endure the annoying publicity of an open court, and the

end, and

And through

that

painful trial which awaited her. When the sheriff left the prison, after his interview

office,

with Miss MORE, on Monday, he repaired to his and wrote several notes, which he immediately

dispatched to the persons for whom they were de After sending off the missives, he remained signed. for some time in a meditative mood, as if he were

which had so

endeavoring to seize the clue to the foul transactions fatally entangled Miss MORE, and

imperiled her peace of mind, and even her life. At length he arose, and went out to attend to some*
official

business.

Not far from eight o clock, on the evening of the same day, he was again at his office, where he was soon joined by several gentlemen, of a grave and
dignified demeanor, who, after exchanging fraternal
greetings, seated themselves around a table. the sheriff, immediately, &quot;Gentlemen,&quot; said

&quot;I

have summoned you here to-night, in the name of our Order, to lay an extraordinary case before you,
for

your consideration.

You have

all,

probably,

252

SIGNET OP KING SOLOMON.

heard of the murder unexampled in atrocity which was committed on Saturday or Sunday last, and of the arrest of a young girl, on suspicion of being the
I called on her this morning, and, notwith the chain of circumstances which attaches standing the offense to her appears to be unbroken, I fully
criminal.

believe her to be as ignorant of the cause of the death of that child as I am myself. She is a person

and so modest and gentle in her one would say she was an angel, rather manners, than a murderess. But, aside from the fact that she
of unusual beauty,
is the victim of some fatal accident, she has claims on our sympathy which we must not ignore. You were acquainted,&quot; he added, &quot;with that worthy brother, Captain JAMES MORE, who died some years
ago?&quot;
&quot;Ah!

a better man, or
replied one

never
&quot;

lived,&quot;

more enlightened Mason, the eldest of the company

and, in consideration of his distinguished virtues, his family was adopted by the Order, and has ever
-

since been under the protection of the Koyal Arch and the Knightly Orders. There are three daughters,

I believe, fair and
&quot;And

promising.&quot;

the alledged murderess,&quot; resumed Sheriff CLARKE, is the eldest of the three.&quot; His daughter the gentlemen all exclaimed at
&quot;
&quot;

&quot;

!

once, astonished
&quot;

beyond measure.
&quot;

Yes,&quot;

continued the

sheriff,

she

is

his daughter

;

and has now

diploma, mark, and a letter written some time before his death, in

in her possession his

IN PRISON.

253

tion of the

which he confides his family to the care and protec Brotherhood and, by these tokens, she
;
&quot;

to-day demands our support.&quot; And they shall not fail her,&quot; said the same one

who had spoken

before, with

&quot;

deep emphasis

;

and

aid shall she have, through the Signet of King Solomon, and a sure refuge under the arch of
&quot;

steel.
&quot;

Amen
and

&quot;

!

was the hearty response
&quot;

The
ren,

sheriff smiled at the
said, gravely
:

of the company. enthusiasm of his breth

duty to the laws.

But we must not forget our The sw ord of justice must fall on
r

the offender, whoever the guilty one

may

be.

If

Miss

MORE be

really guilty,
;

we cannot save her from

the penalty of the law fate. But, believing, as
of accident, or of

we can only deplore her sad we do, that she is the victim some conspiracy, we can furnish

her means to procure the ablest counsel for her defense, and also aid her materially, in looking up testimony in her behalf. I expected one here
to-night,

who

is

the very person to take charge of

he always shows such a feeling interest in the unfortunate and distressed.&quot;
this affair
Charity,&quot; said one of and you do him no more than He is indeed the man to At this justice. moment the speech was interrupted by a noise
&quot;

You mean

our Knight of
&quot;

the

gentlemen

;

.&quot;

without.

The door immediately opened, and the gentleman in black stood before them. Why, this is an agreeable surprise,&quot; said the
&quot;

251
sheriff;
&quot;we

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

were just speaking of you, and lament ing your absence, as we need your advice in an affair
of great
&quot;I

moment.

should have been here before, but only re ceived your note a few moments since, having been absent from the city
all
day,&quot;

man
&quot;

in black.

&quot;

But what

is

replied the gentle the affair of which you

speak?&quot;

resumed the sheriff, prison, charged with murder, and by the Signet of Solomon and Hiram, and other sacred
daughter of our
Order,&quot;
&quot;is

A

in

tokens, she calls us to her
&quot;

aid.&quot;
&quot;

What you amaze me exclaimed the former. &quot;And who is the unfortunate who is accused of so
! !

dreadful a
&quot;

crime?&quot;

MARY MORE, daughter
answered the
!

of the late Captain
&quot;

JAMES
cried

MORE,&quot;
&quot;

sheriff.

MARY MORE
&quot;

Did you say MARY MORE ?

the gentleman, bounding from his seat, pale with
agitation
;
&quot;

prison

!

MARY MORE accused of murder, and in he continued, Oh righteous heavens
&quot;

!

!

stretching his arms above, as if to call down the thunders of eternal justice, how long shall crime
&quot;

and vice prosper in this wretched world, moving in sunshine and glory, while virtue and innocence weep in darkness, or pine away in dungeons ?
&quot;

&quot;

You know
her?

her, then ?

&quot;

said the sheriff, in

some

surprise.
&quot;Know

I have

known her

for years; poor

child, she has suffered

much.&quot;

IN PRISON.

255
interrupted the

&quot;And

you believe her

innocent?&quot;

sheriff.

If there be yet a solitary ray of &quot;Innocent? innocence lingering on earth, to pierce the fearful

gloom that infolds humanity

like a pall of death, that

ray has taken refuge in the heart, and beams from But tell me,&quot; he added, the eyes of MARY MORE.
eagerly, was at

how home
&quot;

all

this

happened?

before this time.
Saturday.&quot;

I supposed she She should have

been there on

The known

sheriff

then proceeded to relate what was
to

in regard
story,

the matter,

first

giving Miss

MORE

S

from the time she received the note

requesting her to delay her departure till Saturday, and then stating the circumstances which bore
against her.

have the story of the accused,&quot; he said, on one side, and the facts on the other. A murder, of
&quot;

We

&quot;

the most cruel description, has been committed by some one the coroner s inquest has demonstrated
;

was the instrument employed the child was brought to Boston by Miss MORE, and portions of the very poison were found in the pocket of the
that poison
;

dress she
&quot;And

wore.&quot;

yet, she is as free of guilt as the
itself,&quot;

murdered
&quot;

innocent

she, quickly replied the gentleman guileless and gentle as she is, has bitter enemies, and
;

this

must be

their work

;

but we have no time to lose in
&quot;

conjectures.
&quot;

When does the examination take place ?
rejoined the sheriff.

On

Saturday,&quot;

256
&quot;

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

there

The time is short, and we must be diligent, as The druggist who sold the is much to do.
;

poison must be found

by the way, was there any
&quot;

mark

the paper or phial containing the poison, which would serve as a guide in this search ?
011
&quot;There was,&quot; responded the and paper bore the label of

sheriff;

&quot;both

phial

Rushton
&quot;

&

Clark,

Broadway,
&quot;

New
&quot;

York.

&quot;

That is im resumed the gentleman. We must also find the coachman who took portant. Miss MORE, and the woman and child, to the steamer, and also the woman herself. A messenger must be

Good

!

sent to

New York and
;

where the
if

woman must have

I will go myself to Newport, left the boat, and see

I can find any traces of her/ After making some other arrangements, which were considered important to the elucidation of the

the mystery, and the vindication of the prisoner, took leave of each other, and separated. gentlemen

\

\

THE

&quot;Speed

on, ye faithful champions, speed!

And
Still

blessings with yon go,

aid the widow, in her need,

And
Still

soothe the orphan

s

woe

;

by the heart-sick stranger

s side,

With words

of kindness, stay,

And

bid the deep and troubled tide
&quot;

Of sorrow pass away.

OHAPTEK

XV.

ATURD AY
ed by so

longed for, and yet dread many anxious hearts at

length came, smiling and fresh, glori ous and radiant, as only one of the
earliest

summer days can

be.

A

sky of

purest azure, and filled with fragrance and song, looked down upon the world in smiling beauty, as if that world were not stained

with crime, and had not come to be a vast and
terrible receptacle of crushed

and bleeding hearts.
to take place

The examination
at ten

of

Miss
half

MORE was

an hour, however, before that time arrived, the court-room was crowded to
o clock.
suffocation,

For

by persons, whom a desire
of

to see the

alledged perpetrator
called out.

so

dreadful

a crime

had

hour, the magistrate and took his seat on the bench, and not appeared, many minutes after, the accused herself entered the
court, leaning

Precisely at the

on the arm of Sheriff CLARKE, attended her counsel, Hon. CHARLES TRAIX, her mother and by

sisters,

whom

LUCIE ELMORE and Miss GLADSTONE, all of seated themselves around her. Several of the
influential

most prominent and

gentlemen of Boston

260

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
to join the circle of

were also seen

her friends.

The

assembly was sensibly moved when she drew aside her vail, and disclosed her sweet face, so gentle and artless in expression so pale, and yet so beautiful. The court itself gazed with wonder on the trembling maiden, who, after a brief and anxious look around, drooped her head upon her mother s shoulder, as if she would draw courage from the maternal breast. After the preliminary formalities had been gone
;

through with, the attorney for the state proceeded to This person set forth what he expected to prove. was a stern, flinty man, by the name of WRINGHEART

an appropriate name, surely who had no faith in virtue, nor even in its possibility, and who pursued his victim with a spirit of animosity and bitterness
unparalleled.

He

identified himself with his cause,

deeply mortified when he failed to secure a conviction, and exhibited an indecent and ferocious

and

felt

joy

when he succeeded. Like a merciless hawk, he now pounced upon the poor, fluttering dove, who,
shrinking beneath his pitiless glances, and the fright
ful picture of guilt

he was portraying, drew closer to

her mother. He said, he hoped the court would not allow itself to be influenced by the personal attractions, nor the of the accused for it youth and apparent artlessness
;

often happens that external graces and accomplish ments, and even the appearance of innocence, are only

masks that conceal the deepest inward depravity, and the wildest and most criminal of passions. Some of

THE EXAMINATION.

261

the most noted criminals, of which history preserves the remembrance, have possessed all these to an

is

eminent degree and it will be proved that this case worthy to be placed in the same record. It is admitted that a murder, of the most shocking character, has been committed. A lovely and inno
;

cent child, over
der, to a

whom

two summers had scarcely

passed, has been sent, by the hand of ruthless mur

deed ?

bloody grave. Who perpetrated the hellish Who, but the prisoner at the bar, could have
It

done

it ?

was

killed

by poison

the most

unim

peachable testimony assures us by poison a peculiar character, and that poison was found of on the person of the accused. And she, when the
scientific

crime was charged upon her, showed all the agitation of guilt. Innocence is firm, and calm, and strong,

whereas her appearance was quite the contrary.

He

proceeded to say,

that, as the counsel for the

defense conceded the material facts, he should call no evidence to substantiate them, but would present

a witness to prove

tfyat,

for

some reason or

other, the

prisoner desired the death of the child, notwith standing her apparent love for it.

He made a signal to some one, and the audience and court scarcely breathed, as a lady moved out of the crowd, and stood on the witness stand. After
being sworn, she gave her testimony as follows Her name was JANE RICHARDSON she resided
:

;

in

Boston

;

was

011

the steamer Saturday night

;

had
in

seen the accused and child and strange

woman

262

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

the ladies cabin

;

the child was Miss

supposed, from appearances, that MOKE S, or some near relation
;

saw the prisoner feed

it

with milk once

;

did not see

the phial nor paper containing the poisons, nor did she see anything put into the milk, after it was

brought by the waiter into the cabin. Mr. WRINGHEAHT here asked her to state whether
she saw or heard anything which would create a suspicion in her mind that the accused had a motive
or a desire to have the
hesitated,

child destroyed.

The lady

residue of

and evidently disliked to proceed, and the her evidence was given with every appear
But, in reply to

ance of reluctance.

WRINGHEART

S

questions, she proceeded to say, that she slept in the cabin in a berth contiguous to the prisoner and the child heard her speak to it could not hear dis
; ;

tinctly all
it is

she said, but these words

&quot;

yet after

all,

better

for you

to die

noiv&quot;

MARY gave

a stifled cry,

were plainly uttered. as those words were pro
;

nounced by the witness. She was horrified they were nearly what she had actually said but what ah awful construction to put on them
;
!

The testimony
was reluctantly

of this witness

had

plainly an effect
It

on the crowd and

court, adverse to the prisoner.

given,

and, therefore,

had

more

weight than if it had been offered without hesitation. The countenances of MARY S friends looked troubled

;

not that their faith in her innocence was in the least shaken, but they feared the effect of the testimony on the court. Mr. TRAIN, the counsel for the accused,

THE EXAMINATION.

263

was not without uneasiness 4 for witnesses, in behalf had been assured, would be had not yet made their appearance. there, Mr. WRINGHEART having said that he should offer no more testimony at present, but claimed the privi
of the prisoner, who, he
lege to introduce, at a subsequent period, such as might be deemed necessary, the prisoner s counsel

proceeded to state his theory of defense. His intro ductory remarks were brief, touching, and eloquent.

He

said he should

make no attempt

to

awaken the

sympathy and pity

of the court for his fair client, but

should rather seek to find the means of unraveling the murderous mystery in which one innocent life

had already been

lost,

in circumstances of danger.

and which placed another His client confided in

her innocence and the justice of heaven, and desired, more than any one else, the fullest investigation
feeling sure

that the result of

such investigation

would be her complete and absolute vindication. He then went on to state all the case, from the time when Miss MORE received the anonymous note,
to the death of the child

which led her to remain one day longer in New York, commenting on each, and
;

explaining them
innocence.
&quot;

in a

manner consistent with her
he continued,
&quot;

revealed, as plain as the light of day, traces of a plot to insnare this unoffending maiden? that she has enemies,
see,&quot;

Now, do we not here

who, from some secret motives, have followed her with their persecutions, seeking nothing less than

264

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

her utter ruin, is certayi ? Have not those invisible hands, now red with murder, created these circum
stances,

and

set

this

trap,

to

accomplish

their

nefarious purpose ? tion, that a strange

It is admitted,

by the prosecu

woman accompanied Miss MOKE

and the child
appeared.
or
Is

to the steamer,
it

and mysteriously dis not a reasonable conclusion that she,

of the conspirators, administered the poison before the accused even saw the child ; and then, when she was wrapt in the sleep of innocence,

some one

placed the poison in her pocket, to fix suspicion on her ? Is it asked, what motive any one could have to
conceive and carry into execution such a diabolical May we not ask, with still stronger emphasis, what motive could the prisoner have had to destroy

plan ?

that deserted child ?

That she loved children, to an

extraordinary degree, is notorious. That, during the few hours she had the care of the victim, she became
strongly attached to it is proved. What good could she derive from its death ? In what way could its

removal

No murders are not committed without powerful motives and, in this case, there is not even the faintest shadow of one to hang a
affect

her interest ?

;

;

suspicion upon.

Under

all

the circumstances,

it

would

be far more

easy to conceive almost

any one else guilty
True, a witness

of this crime, rather than the accused.

has sworn that Miss

MORE uttered some words, which
;

implied a desire for the death of the child but the witness herself says she heard but a part of a sen tence. Now, the words which the prisoner spoke,

THE EXAMINATION.
and which the witness did
not hear,

265

would undoubt

edly have conveyed a very different idea.&quot; At this moment, the advocate was interrupted

by a

movement

at the door,

which attracted the attention

of the court.

The crowd

accompanied by

parted, and a gentleman, a female, and a young man of pre

possessing appearance, entered the chamber of justice. The arrival of this party created a lively sensation

throughout the assembly, and the prisoner, on looking

up to see what the agitation was, uttered a cry of joy and surprise, as she saw standing directly before her, the gentleman in black, and the woman whose myste rious disappearance had caused her so much trouble.
7 ,

After a short consultation with this gentleman, the advocate informed the court that the expected wit
nesses were

now

present, and, with his leave, he

would proceed with their examination. The first was the young man. He was a comely witness called
youth, not far from twenty years of age, with dark complexion, large black eyes, sparkling with intelli
gence, and a face that would be called decidedly handsome, were its beauty not slightly marred by

the nose, which was unmistakably puggish. being sworn, he deposed as follows
:
&quot;

On-

Am prescription
&amp;lt;fc

clerk in the
;

drug store of RUSH-

TON

paper on Friday

CLARK, New York I recognize the phial and now shown me put up and sold the articles
;

last

;

they are used medicinally

;

but, taken

in certain quantities, are

deadly poisons, producing death in from three to thirty-six hours, according to
12

266

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

the amount given never sell poisons only when ordered by a physician, and as the prescription, ordering these, appeared to be in regular form, did
;

not hesitate to put them up.&quot; To whom did you sell these articles
&quot;

?

Was

the

purchaser a
&quot;A

man

or

woman ?
age.&quot;

&quot;

asked the advocate.
&quot;I

man,&quot;

replied the witness;

should think
&quot;

about thirty years of
&quot;

&quot;

give a further description of him ? His complexion was rather sallow nose, slightly
; ;

Can you

Horn an
thick

eyes, dark and restless
black.&quot;

;

his

moustache was

and

As these were the principal points which the defense desired to have elucidated, the witness was relieved,
and the woman was placed upon the stand. Her ap pearance was pitiful in the extreme. She seemed to be
completely crushed with feelings of remorse and fear. She gave her testimony, however, without hesitation. She said that on Friday of the previous week a

gentleman,

whom
name

whose

real

she had several times seen, but she did not know, called on her, and

asked her to aid him in an enterprise, which, he assured her, should result in no permanent harm to any person,

and that he would pay her well -for it. She consented, and he gave her directions, which she, to her lasting She knew that some regret, had blindly followed. trouble was intended to the prisoner, but had no thought that it was anything serious. The child was brought to her about two hours before she took the coach, where she met, as she had expected, the accused.

THE EXAMINATION.
It

267

was then somewhat stupid and
of,
ill,

listless,

which she

thought nothing

been some time
his counsel, she

as the gentleman told her it had but was convalescent. Following

exchanged

of a poorer quality.

On

its rich clothing for some the boat she met the gentle

man again, and received the phial and paper, and placed them, as he directed, in the pocket of the prisoner had made it appear that the child belonged
;

was a servant left the boat at Newport, and was on the point of returning to New York, when she was arrested, and brought on here as a witness. She declined to tell what her occupation was, but solemnly affirmed that she had no knowledge of any intended crime, and had been only a blind instrument in the hands of others.
to the

young lady

;

that she herself

;

When

asked to describe the person

who brought
;

the

child to her, she answered that she

had

his miniature,

that he accidently dropped she gave it to the advocate.

when

at her house

and

As her statement had every appearance of truth, she was released, but ordered not to leave the city, as she might be called to testify further in regard to
these matters.

While the
person came

last witness

was giving her testimony, a into the court-room, and going directly
hands a

to the attorney for the state, placed in his

document, which he remarked was important for the prosecution. Mr. WRINGHEART opened it with eager
ness,

and hastily glanced over its contents. To judge the smile of triumph which lighted up, for a by

268

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
his stern countenance, they

moment,

must have been

very gratifying to him.

Meanwhile, there was in the court one person, whom we have not yet noticed, who watched the proceedings
with intense anxiety. That person was MATTHEW He stood in an obscure corner, leaning against a column, which partially concealed him from obser

ORALL.

two witnesses were giving their testimony, he was fearfully agitated, and gave a sigh of relief as they left the stand. But, with the reckless
vation.
last

As the

ness of those

who

to remain, and evidence against Miss MORE w ould be sufficient to send her to a liiglipr court for trial.
r

follow an evil destiny, he resolved see the end ; still hoping that the

The counsel

for the defense, after

showing that the

testimony of the woman, and the clerk of KUSHTON & CLARK, completely exonerated his client, by fixing the

crime on other parties, demanded her discharge, when Mr. WRING HE ART suddenly rose, and vehemently

opposed the motion. Your honor will remember,&quot; he said,&quot; that I claimed
&amp;lt;;

the privilege of putting in other evidence,

if it

should

come
case
;

to hand,

and I a document which changes entirely the aspect of affairs, and fastens the crime so strongly on the prisoner, that I must move that she be fully committed to answer
before the Superior Court for this atrocious murder. My learned brother, who has conducted the de
&quot;

and have an important bearing on the now claim that right. I hold in my hand

fense,&quot;

he continued,

&quot;

dwelt lone? upon the fact that

THE EXAMINATION.
the accused
;

269

had no motive

for her awful crime, and,
;

therefore could not be guilty arid I am willing to grant that there was wanting an important link in the

There

chain of circumstances, but that link is now found. is evidence that the death of that child would

affect, most materially, the interests of the accused and her family. This instrument is a policy of insu rance on the life of a child described herein, and

named MARY LUDLOW;
dollars, to

the amount, five thousand

MORE, her mother, and
murdered
infant.&quot;

be paid in the event of her death to MARY This document was sisters.

found to-day, concealed among the clothes of the
It is impossible to describe the first effect of this

new

discovery.
s breast,

mother
dismay.

The prisoner fell in a swoon on her and all her friends were struck with
in black, pale as marble,

The gentleman

and trembling violently, supported himself on a table, near which he was standing. It was not, however,
any fear he
felt for

MARY MORE that caused

his agita

tion, but a new horror that suddenly started up before him. He thrust his hand into a pocket, and snatched

therefrom two

letters,

received

from

New York,

which, in the anxiety

some days before and excitement

he had entirely forgotten. He hastily opened them. One was from Mr. BENTON, the actuary
of his mission,

company, where he had taken out him that the document had been duly executed, but had been stolen, as he sus pected, by a person who had called one morning to
of the insurance

the policy, informing

270

SIGNET OF

KIX&amp;lt;i

SOLOMON.

ask employment as a soliciting agent, and been left alone a short time in the office.

who had
:

The other was from Mrs. DE GROVE, and ran thus
&quot;Come

me, without delay, my dear friend, for I am in great Our dear little MART has been stolen, and we can find no trace of her in the city. My grief is so great I can scarcely inform you how the disaster happened. Saturday morning the nurse took her out for a walk, and went, as she says, to Union Park, where she sat down on a bench, while our lost darling played
to

trouble and sorrow.

around

her.

A

gentleman, at this time, sauntered along up the

gravel walk, and, seeing the child, patted it gently on the head The little one seemed to be attracted to him, and played around

him

in perfect confidence.

After a

little

time,

he asked her name,

The nurse says he seemed surprised, and repeated it to himself, and at length remarked, I have heard that name before; at the same time he took a paper from his pocket, which he unfolded, and scanned for a moment, when he replaced
which she gave him.
it,

remarking to himself,

It

is,

indeed, the same.

His attentions

and child now became more assiduous, and he appeared so gentlemanly and kind, no suspicions were excited in regard to him in the mind of the woman. At length he said to the child: Let us go down there, pointing to a fruit and candy stand, not far and get some oranges and candy; off, at the lower end of the park, and, taking MARY by the hand, she walked off with him. The nurse,
to the nurse

entirely unsuspicious, looked in another direction, for an instant, and when she turned to look for the child neither she nor the

stranger was in sight. She went immediately to the fruit-stand, and the woman who kept it informed her that the gentleman stopped to

purchase a couple of oranges, and then hurried to a coach standing near, and drove rapidly away.

This

is all
!

we know

of the terrible event,
fail to

and
&quot;

I

am

crushed by the

affliction

Oh

!

do not

come

speedily.

After reading this letter, he stood a moment, speechless with horror. His suspicion had become a frightful certainty. Oh righteous Heaven,&quot; he
&quot;

!

at length exclaimed,

&quot;

how

terrible are

thy retribu-

THE EXAMINATION.
tions
! !

271

But, oil why couldst tliou not punish the without striking, also, the innocent?&quot; guilty, At this moment his eyes fell on MATTHEW ORALL.

Surveying Jiim an instant, with mingled abhorrence I have a commu and pity, he turned to the judge
&quot;

:

nication to

make,&quot;

he

&quot;

said,

which

will

fill

the court

with dismay.

The insurance

policy, which, has just

been read, so far from testifying against Miss MORE, the evidence is the key which unlocks her prison

which establishes her innocence, and brings to light
the guilty. I, myself, took it out for the benefit of an estimable family, in whom I am interested. It

was

stolen

from the insurance

office,

by an enemy

of

Miss MOKE, probably with the intention of destroying
it,

so as to prevent its being of any benefit to her. But, by a terrible fatality, he accidentally met the hapless child, and learned that she was the person

named
came ment

in the instrument.

Then

the infernal idea

he could employ it as an instru of vengeance against an innocent girl, and he resolved to murder the child, and make Miss MORE
to him, that
suffer

the penalty of his crime. But,&quot; he added, moment s reflection, I have something more to say, which invests with unexampled horror the
after a
&quot;

offense,

which

is

present aspects.
crime,

enough, viewed in its There were two parties to this
terrible

MATTHEW ORALL and MAY MILLWOOD, and the murdered Mary Ludloiu ivas their own daughter At this dreadful revelation, so unexpected and sud
/&quot;

den, the whole assembly

was paralyzed with amaze-

272
ment.

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

ORALL stood

like

one in a dream, unconscious,

apparently, of anything around him, and made no resistance when the officers bore him away to prison.

After the agitation had somewhat subsided, the court gave Miss MORE an honorable discharge, ex pressing the warmest sympathy for her trials, and
fervently wishing her a bright, prosperous,
future.

and happy

After receiving the congratulations of her acquaintance, and others who had become interested

in her, she left the

room with her

friends.

As

it

was

too late in the day for them to return home, they went to a hotel, where they decided to remain till

Monday.

Although heartily rejoiced

at her deliver
of!

ance, neither

MARY nor her

friends could shake

the gloom that oppressed them,
of

when they thought
fate

Miss MILLWOOD and ORALL, and the awful

they had brought upon themselves. During the evening, the gentleman in black called upon them, and, after conversing with MARY and her mother

some time in a low tone, departed. At a late hour that night, a carriage, containing three persons, left the city by the Chelsea ferry, and
drove off rapidly toward Oceanville.

THE EISTD OF THE PA.TH.

12*

&quot;It

ceased

and then she thought

to speak;

Then burst her

voice in one long shriek,

And
Or
But

to the earth she fell like stone,
its

statue from
j et

base o erthrown.
all

she lived, and

too soon

Recovered from that death-like swoonBut scarce to reason: every sense

Had been
The

o erstrung by pangs intense.
the future, black;
track,

past, a blank

With glimpses of a dreary

Like lightning in the desert path, When midnight storms are mustering wrath.

&quot;

BYEON.

CHAPTER

XYI.
little

UNDAY
and

morning arose on the

village of Lynnville, in quiet serenity
glory.

The ocean
its

rolled softly

and musically on

sunny shore.
the west wind,

The woods,
flowers

stirred gently

by

were melodious with song, and redolent of
;

and the

hills

The blessed repose in a joyful rest. bath seemed to have fallen on both nature and
&quot;

anxious hearts and throbbing breasts ye daughters of grief, and sons of sorrow for GOD S holy day the day for high aspirations
!

rest,

!

!

and pious resolves for penitence and prayer, reform and worship.&quot; Thus the sky, and the sea, and the woods, and the hills, seemed to speak to man calling his thoughts and affections away from earth, and
;

bearing them up to heaven

;

lifting his soul

contemplation of the transient

from the and mortal, to the

enduring, the immortal, the infinite. Early in the forenoon, a lady was seen to
of

come out

an ancient and venerable-looking mansion, and

270

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

walk leisurely toward the woods. She followed a path which led up a hill of considerable hight, and,
reaching the most elevated point, sat down on a moss-grown rock. The hill was covered with wild
roses,
its

and the sweet eglantine, and the prospect from summit was enchanting in the highest degree.

The lady gazed upon the fair panorama with evi dent pleasure. Her countenance was animated, and
radiant with an expression of gratified ambition and

pleasing anticipation. This person was MAY MILL WOOD. She had not heard, of course, of the extra

ordinary turn events had taken in Boston, and in
fearful position they had placed her, and could not hear, in any ordinary way, until Monday. Little did she dream, therefore, what an earthquake

what a

was slumbering

at

gathering in that peaceful
their blasting bolts
!

her feet; what lightnings were sky, to strike her with

It was, indeed, a far

more pleasant dream that

occupied her thoughts that morning. She had gained her end. MOKLEY had consented to wed her, at even
tide,

and the marriage was

to take place in the village

It is needless to inquire, now, what had chapel. induced MOKLEY to change his determination not to be married until his birthday perhaps it was MAY S
;

importunity
it, if

perhaps he could not himself explain

he tried. But his determination had changed, and he was to be married that night. The rumor of this event had spread on Saturday through the
village,

and the young people were

all

alive with

THE END OF THE PATH,

277
;

MAY was wrapt in a delicious dream anticipation. her cheeks rivaled the roses which bloomed around
her
;
&quot;

her heart bounded with joy, and she was just saying to herself, Now I have reached the goal of
&quot;

when

a voice seemed to

fall

from the sides on her

startled ears, striking her motionless as a statue,
&quot;

and

changing the roses on her cheeks to ashes May Millwood ! you have reached the goal the end of the
:

mossy rocks, and waving trees, But her dream and its bright and after remaining some time,
seat,

considering her position, she rose from her and, pale and trembling, returned to the house.
as

The holy Sabbath
glory poured
calling to
its

rolled

floods of radiance

away, and the sunset on the ocean
of Righteous

;

mind the time when the Son

ness himself walked on the Galilean sea, leaving behind him there, and on the vast heaving ocean of

human

life,

to

remain

and increase

forever,

the

splendors of

immortal truth.

The evening shadows grew longer and longer, wider
and wider, until, at last, they infolded sea, and sky, and all things in their dusky embrace. The chapel was already filled to overflowing, and the minister was at his desk, when EDWIN MORLEY and MAY MILLWOOD, supported by a groomsman and
bridesmaid, entered, and stood before the pulpit. MAY was dressed simply, and with good taste, in

278

SIGNET OP KING SOLOMON.

spotless white,

and

lier

hair was ornamented with a

Although she had recovered from the shock of the morning, and seemed to be borne up by a strong will, she betrayed considerable
wreath of white roses.
nervous anxiety, and perceptibly trembled.
minister had proceeded through the opening ceremony, and was about to speak the irrevocable

The

words, which would make the couple legally one, when a voice, deep and solemn, and stern as death,
rolled through the chapel
&quot;

:

May !

behold the end

;

thy path is traversed behold, now, the opening gulf! Edwin Morley ivill not wed with a murderess, and

Millwood

s

hands are red

witli the blood

of her

mur
:

dered child,
the

Mary Ludloiv!&quot; At the same time, a stranger stepped forth from the crowd, and said
&quot;In

name

of the law, I arrest the person
&quot;

named MAY

MILLWOOD, on the charge of murder It would be impossible to describe the consternation and horror that were painted on the countenances of
!

tion of a marriage scene.
&quot;

the persons assembled there, at this strange termina MAY gave one long, wild

shriek,

O GOD my
!

&quot;

child

!

and
It

fell

insensible into

the arms of the bridesmaid.

was long before she

recovered, and even then she could not clearly com prehend what had taken place. She stared wildly

around, crying,

&quot;my
&quot;

child!

my

child!

murdered,

Ever repeating these words, murdered, murdered she was placed by the officer in a carriage, and
!

taken away.

There was no service

in

the chapel at Lynnville that

THE END OF THE PATH.
night,

279

to meditate

and with sad hearts the congregation dispersed on the tragical events that had occurred.
entirely stupefied

MORLEY was

wandered out, scarcely With his head drooping on his breast, he walked slowly up the path which was traversed by MAY MILLWOOD in the morning, and seated himself on the same stone. His senses were so benumbed that he did not notice that he was followed nor was he con scious that any person was near, until a light touch on his arm, and a sweet voice, softly speaking his name, recalled him to himself. Quickly raising his head, what was his astonishment on seeing the smiling, yet sad and tearful face of MAEY MORE,
;

by these events, and knowing whither he went.

wearing the old loving look, turned toward his. &quot;MARY MORE here/ he cried, starting up and
&quot;

I have heard all, and have come to forgive you. By the artful manage ment of the misguided MILLWOOD, our letters were intercepted and destroyed, and we were made to believe each other false. That good gentleman in
&quot; &quot;

staring wildly upon her. the fair girl Yes,&quot; said

;

black has explained everything to
&quot;

me.&quot;

She speaks truly, EDWIN MORLEY,&quot; said a voice near them and a moment after Captain THORNBURY stood before them. Both MORLEY and MARY looked at each other and Captain THORNBURY with amazement. Captain THORNBURY here they both cried at the same time &quot;we thought you were far, far away,
;
&quot;
&quot;

!

;

in the wilds of the

West.

When

did you return

&quot;

?

280
&quot;

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

Last

evening,&quot;

lie

replied

;

&quot;just

in time to see a

dark mystery unraveled, and two lovers, so long estranged, once more happily united.&quot;

MARY, who had been looking
hill,

now

said.

&quot;

be ?
&quot;

I left

him

earnestly down the the gentleman in black at the foot of the hill, and he said he

Where can

would join us

directly.&quot;

never see that gentleman again,&quot; replied he has accomplished his mis Captain THORNBURY and departed, never to return.&quot; sion,
will
&quot;

You

;

&quot;

It is very
it.&quot;

strange,&quot;

MARY resumed

&quot;

;

I cannot

But a new idea seemed suddenly to understand flash upon her mind, and, casting on the Captain a look of intelligence, she was about to speak, when he placed his finger on his lips, and said, with a smile,
&quot;

Meddle

not,

young

lady, with the secrets of the
&quot;

gen

tleman in
friends
;

black.&quot;

And added, But come, my young
MORLEY, you
&quot;

it is

getting late.

will

conduct

Miss
to

MORE

to the

remain

till

house of her friend, where she is them good-night,&quot; Monday.&quot; He bade

and departed. For some days, only three topics occupied the minds of the people of Ocean ville and Lynnville the first of which was MAY MILLWOOD and her strange Her arrest for the murder of a child was history.
sufficiently astonishing,

but that that child should be
;

hers and ORALL

them with amazement they The second, had never dreamed was Captain THORNBURY S sudden return; and the third, was the mysterious disappearance of the
S, filled

of such a scandal.

THE END OF THE PATH.
gentleman in black.
fact that the strange
It

281

was considered a remarkable

gentleman should have made

appearance simultaneously with the departure for the West, and disappeared the moment he returned. They wondered much who he was, whence he came, and whither he went; but
his
of

THORNBURY

amounted to nothing. Only one thing they knew he had vanished, and they never beheld him again. The examination of ORALL and MAY took place on
their conjectures

Tuesday.

The

latter

the terrible fate of her child

was discharged was the

;

for,

although

result of her

wicked suggestions,

it

did not appear that she ever

contemplated so awful a crime as murder, and par ticularly the murder of her own daughter, of whose
existence even she

had no

to her peculiar condition
die,

when the

certain knowledge. Owing child appeared to

and was removed from her, she only had a vague idea that it was dead, and sometimes thought that it yet lived. Yet she remembered distinctly its sweet little face, and its soft eyes, and loving smiles.
ORALL, however, was fully committed for trial. After her discharge, MAY returned home but she
;

was no longer the same. She had, indeed, found the end of her path. Shunned by all, she never again mingled with society. Her mind appeared to be unsettled, her eyes wore a wild and weary look, and she often fell into fits of musing and melancholy. She fancied that her murdered child was constantly Of what had belonged to little MARY, following her.

282

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

she only retained a lock of hair, and a small blanket, neatly trimmed with white satin, that had often
enfolded the lovely form, and which she had sacredly kept concealed at the bottom of her trunk. These

she would

now

them

for

hours in

frequently bring out, and gaze upon silence. Sometimes she would

walk by the sea, or in the most secluded parts of the woods, saying ever to herself &quot;Alone ! alone ! You must ivalk the path of life alone!&quot;
:

MARY MORE and EDWIN MORLEY grew more and in love every day. MORLEY frankly confessed his weakness in yielding to the fascinations of MAY
more
MILLWOOD, and was generously forgiven by MARY. After a few months, they were married. Mrs. MOR LEY ever preserved a grateful remembrance of those
friends

who were

the reader
forget,

may

so faithful in her days of trial, and be assured that she never could
&quot;

The Signet of that powerful talisman which had King brought her safely through so many dangers.
Solomon&quot;

nor be induced to part with,

EPILOGUE.

THE

SIN&quot;

BLOTTED OUT.

&quot;There is

joy in heaven I
joy in heaven
!

There

is

When
&quot;\Vhen

the sheep that went astray
to virtue s

Turns again
Sobs

way;

the soul, to good subdued,

its

prayer of gratitude,
is

Then

there joy in

heaven!&quot;

CHAPTEK

XVII.

|T

was the twenty-fourth
day sacred
vent, to the

of June-

the

in all time, since the

Ad

memory

of St.

John the

Baptist, the first herald of the

New

Dispensation, and the patron Saint of

the mysteries of Solomon and Hiram.

The Knights

286
of the

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.

Temple were again assembled

to celebrate

their favorite anniversary, to offer their hospitalities to pilgrims from afar, and review the condition of

that Brotherhood which, in all ages, has been the most faithful defender of the Christian religion, the
shield of innocence, the protector of the weak, the nursery of political and religious freedom.

and

After the

encampment was organized, the Grand
said
:

Commander
&quot;

Senior Warden, are there any pilgrims or peni tents at our gates, who have come to crave our
hospitality, or to reclaim their rights ?
&quot;
&quot;

There

is

one

without,&quot;

replied the

Warden,

&quot;

both

a pilgrim and a penitent, who has traveled for a year and a day, protecting the defenseless, helping the poor, visiting the sick, defending the widow and

orphan, and honoring our Order by illustrious virtues.

He now
and
&quot;

returns, to

find repose

resume his place in^our councils, under the banner of the Temple.&quot;
of&quot;

GOD.&quot; Let him enter, then, in the name The door opened, and a person, covered with the cloak of a pilgrim, and holding in his hand a staff,

entered, and, proceeding to the altar, knelt for a few moments in silent prayer at the same time an organ gave forth a strain, at first sad and melancholy, like
;

the wail of remorse and penitence,

and then pealing

out like the voice of
victorious armies.

As

trumpets, or the shout of the organ tones died away, all

the Knights raised their voices in a solemn chant.

There is joy in heaven There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over rinety
&quot;

!

and nine

The pilgrim

just persons that need no repentance.&quot; at the altar now rose, and, laying

THE
aside his cloak

SIN

BLOTTED OUT.

287

and staff, approached the Grand Commander, and bowed respectfully before him. said the chief, you have made the tour Pilgrim,&quot; of penance and of warfare, and for a year and a day have traversed the labyrinths of sorrow, and labor, and tears. You went out, bending under the cypress and willow you return, crowned with the myrtle and
&quot;
&quot;

;

laurel.

In humility, you accepted the doom pro nounced by the Commandery, and faithfully have you achieved the severe labors which we required at your
hands.
of

The

joyful tears of the wretched, the forlorn

widows and orphans, and of those who had none to help, form a diadem for your brow, more brilliant than an emperor s jeweled crown, and bear witness to your fidelity and knightly truth and valor. By sacred labors you have expiated your fault, and to-day your sin and its memory are blotted out forever. heralds &quot;Take notice, Sir Knights, and let the the it to east, west, north, and south proclaim name of Sir JOHN THORNBURY is erased from the book of doom, and inscribed in golden letters 011 the column of honor and renown.
Sir JOHN, behold your sword, now restored to you with our confidence, and love, and profound regard. We know you will wear it with honor, and ever wield
&quot;

it

helpless orphans,
&quot;

in defense of innocent virgins, destitute widows, and the faith of CHRIST.

of your Order,
&quot;

Receive, also, this scarf, and the other decorations and consider yourself reestablished

in all the rights

is

and exalted privileges of knighthood. Sir Knights, the example of Sir JOHN THORNBURY worthy of imitation. Let us learn from his history
although penitence, and
labor,

that,

and charity

will

288
not open to

SIGNET OF KING SOLOMON.
-us again the temple of Innocence, they will with honor, to the temple of Virtue. while you strive, as faithful Knights, for the

bring
&quot;

us,

And

establishment of order, and justice, a-iid truth in the earth, forget not the sacred ties which bind you to each other. If you see a Brother bending under the
cross of adversity and disappointment, look not idly on, neither pass by on the other side but fly to his relief. If he be deceived, tell him the truth; if he
;

be calumniated, vindicate his cause for, although, in some instances, he may have erred, still recol lect that indiscretion in him should never destroy
;

humanity

in you.
let
all

us remember that memento mori is mundane things. The whole system The time of worlds is subject to change and decay. of our warfare on earth is short and how numerous the foes, within and without, we have yet to subdue, before we can lay aside our armor, and rest from
&quot;Finally,

written on

;

our labors

!

Let us be

vigilant, then,

and

diligent

;

for, before the holy-day of St. JOHN shall dawn upon us again, some of us may have fallen upon the

and the laughing spring and come, only to scatter flowers upon our grave. Watch, therefore, labor, and piay. Sir Warden, what is the hour ? The end of day.&quot; What remains to be done ? To practice virtue, flee from vice, and remain in
battle-field

of

life,

rosy summer
&quot;

will

&quot;

&quot;

&quot;

&quot;

&quot;

silence.&quot;

Since there remains nothing to do but to practice virtue, and flee from vice, let us enter again into silence, that the will of GOD may be accomplished/
&quot;

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